Ben Hillman has given Jonnie Irwin a shout-out during an awards acceptance speech (Picture: Ben Hillman/ Instagram/ Doug Peters/EMPICS)
A Place in the Sun’s Ben Hillman has paid tribute to Jonnie Irwin while accepting an award.
On Tuesday night Jonnie, 49, made a rare public appearance at the Tric Awards, where stars including Bradley Walsh, Piers Morgan and Roman Kemp picked up some of the biggest gongs of the evening.
Last year Jonnie announced he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, recently sharing that he could now have months to live following his stage-four lung cancer diagnosis.
At the awards A Place in the Sun picked up the Daytime Award, a category previously dominated by This Morning.
During the acceptance speech Ben, 33, took a moment to acknowledge Jonnie’s work on the series over the years.
‘Wow. I am so sweaty I can’t believe it. I have literally just got back from holiday. I took the children to school this morning, I went to class assembly, I ran up here and I never expected this,’ he began, as reported by The Sun.
Jonnie made a rare public appearance at the TRIC Awards this week (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
‘This is fantastic, thank you to TRIC, thank you to everybody that has voted for us.
‘It is 23 years almost now which is unbelievable, there are so many people from behind the scenes here who do amazing work and keep the show on the road.’
He continued: ‘Gosh, I am exhausted…thank you everybody that voted.
‘Obviously, someone we would like to mention is a fantastic presenter who has been on the show for decades, Jonnie Irwin.’
The presenter first began working on the show back in 2004 (Picture: A Place In The Sun)
Looking into the audience, where Jonnie was sitting, he added: ‘I know you’re out there somewhere, Jonnie. This one is for you too, Jonnie, and thanks Channel 4, I think that’s got it.’
Also celebrating the win was Jasmine Harman, who started working on A Place In The Sun with Jonnie in 2004, took to Instagram with a throwback picture grinning alongside her ‘OG partner in crime’.
She wrote: ‘Throwback to 2008 when @jonnieirwintv and I collected the TRIC award for Best Daytime programme.
‘THRILLED to announce that today, A Place in the Sun was once again awarded this prestigious title; unfortunately I couldn’t be there as I’m away filming, but I am overflowing with gratitude to all the viewers and people who took the time to vote.
Jasmine Harman also recently paid tribute to her long-time colleague (Picture: Jasmine Harman/ Instagram)
‘Plus all of the incredible teams who pour their hearts into making the show what it is. Congratulations to everyone.’
She sent ‘big love’ to all of the other presenters and gave a ‘personal shout out to my OG partner in crime, Jonnie’.
‘I especially want to tell you how much your contribution to the show over the years is enormously valued and you are very much loved.’
Jonnie replied in the comments: ‘You’re a diamond and a true friend. Xxx.’
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Jonnie was right there listening on.