Following the death of Jonnie Irwin last week, the BBC aired an Escape to the Country special in tribute to the presenter on Monday (February 5).
In a statement released earlier on Monday, and in a change to the scheduled programme, the BBC said it would air “a special tribute to Jonnie Irwin at 3pm on BBC One with an Escape to the Country special”.
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Escape to the Country special
Posting on Instagram, the official Escape to the Country account shared two beautiful pictures of Jonnie and said: “In a change to the BBC schedule today, this afternoon’s transmission of Escape to the Country is the last programme Jonnie recorded with us and will include a tribute to him at the end.”
I will be watching with a tissue in hand.
“I will be watching with a tissue in hand,” said one fan of the show. Another added: “That’s lovely, will be watching. Rest in peace, Jonnie.” A third commented: “Such a lovely gesture. Will miss Jonnie.”
Escape to the Country’s tribute following death of Jonnie Irwin
The BBC aired the last-ever programme that Jonnie recorded for them. Poignantly, at the end of the episode, he is seen telling the couple that he can’t wait to come back and see how things are going. Sadly, Jonnie never had the chance to do that.
At the end of the episode, a black screen briefly aired. Then a compilation of Jonnie’s best bits from over the years was shown. He was seen falling out of a boat, fishing, riding on a kiddies train, larking about to camera and walking along the beach at sunset.
Afterwards, the black screen aired briefly again, before a picture of Jonnie smiling was shown with the caption: “Jonnie Irwin 1973 – 2024.”
#escapetothecountry lovely tribute to @jonnieirwin he will be missed pic.twitter.com/t89S8Rg9hG
— Sheila (@SheilaB70934144) February 5, 2024
‘What a lovely tribute’
“A very sad episode,” said one viewer. “He carried on very professionally to the end, very very sad R.I.P.” “Just watched #JonnieIrwin‘s last #Escapetothecountry and it was sad to watch,” said another.
“Walking in the sunset at the end, very poignant! RIP,” said another. “What a lovely tribute #escapetothecountry has done today for #JonnieIrwin. I don’t know why, but it feels like we’ve lost a good friend. Condolences to Jonnie’s family and friends, I’m sure he will never be forgotten. RIP Jonnie,you fought a dignified brave,” said another.
“A great episode and a very touching tribute to him at the end,” agreed another with the floods of tears emoji. “That montage was very tearful and you can tell that the viewers absolutely love Jonnie,” said another.
BBC tribute to ‘extraordinary man’ Jonnie Irwin after his death aged 50
The tribute came after a statement from the BBC on February 2 in which the broadcaster shared its sadness over Jonnie’s death at the age of 50.
In a statement, Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, said: “Jonnie Irwin was an extraordinary man and wonderful presenter. He brought such warmth and fun to Escape to the Country, where he was a firm favourite with not just viewers, but the production team too.
“More recently, he did some truly inspirational reports for Morning Live about his illness, tackling taboos around end-of-life care, and wonderfully demonstrating the limitless positivity that he brought to everything he did.
“His kindness will be hugely missed by everyone he worked with. We are sending all of our thoughts to his family and friends at this sad time,” he then concluded.
Jonnie joined the show back in 2010. His death was announced on February 2. He was aged 50 and had been open about his terminal cancer diagnosis. Jonnie leaves behind a wife and three young sons.
Read more: Jonnie Irwin’s wife’s tribute to her husband following his death in full
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