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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Tom Bryant & Sophie McCoid

Simon Thomas joining This Morning team after losing wife Gemma

Simon Thomas is returning to our screens by presenting on This Morning - 18 months after suddenly losing his beloved wife Gemma.

Simon, 46, will be presenting a series on alternative therapies for mental health and wellbeing.

It will be his first time presenting since Gemma died from Leukaemia in November 2017, which led to him quitting Sky Sports last April.

The three-part strand – Pursuits of Happiness – kicks off next Wednesday, reports Mirror Online.

Simon has spoken openly about the impact grief has had on him and son Ethan.

Gemma died just four days after being ­diagnosed at the age of 40.

In the films he tries cold water ­swimming – thought to help depression – and equestrian therapy among others.

Simon now has a girlfriend, Derrina Jebb, 27, who he met through his church.

Speaking in November, the ex-Blue Peter presenter said she has been “an incredible support”.

He said: “What I saw in her, I saw in Gemma.

"When she said my phone is always on, she meant it.”

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Martin Frizell, editor of This Morning, said: “This series will be Simon’s first step in returning to his presenting career and will focus on a subject matter that changed his life for ever.”

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*Pursuits of Happiness starts on May 8 on This Morning, on ITV at 10.30am.

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