Simon Thomas said he feels ‘blessed’ as he prepares to welcome his second child with wife Derrina.
Simon, 51, married Derrina in 2021 after his first wife, Gemma, died of blood cancer. Gemma and Simon share son Ethan, 12.
Simon and Derrina share daughter Talitha, 15 months – and she is due to give birth to their second child together in ‘a few weeks’.
In a new interview, he has told how he feels ‘really lucky with the life I do’ despite losing his first wife.
He told The mirror: ‘The baby is due in a few weeks, so quite close to the end of the football season.
Simon Thomas said he feels ‘blessed’ as he prepares to welcome his second child with wife Derrina on Thursday (seen with their daughter Talitha)
Simon, 51, married Derrina in 2021 after his first wife, Gemma, died of blood cancer. Gemma and Simon share son Ethan, 12
‘It’s been a huge joy to see Ethan have Talitha in the house, and in a few weeks another brother or sister, so it’s been lovely. There is of course an age difference, but they have a lovely bond.
‘The way her face lights up when he comes home from school. She can say ‘goodbye’ now and she loves watching him play his guitar. So it has been a real source of joy.
“Sometimes it sounds weird to say I’m blessed because of what happened, but I’m really lucky to have the life I have and to be back in regular work.”
Simon announced he was expecting his second child with wife Derrina back in January.
The TV personality, who previously presented Sky Sports and Blue Peter, shared the sweet update to mark his birthday.
Uploading a photo of this son Ethan and daughter Talitha with an ultrasound scan, he revealed that “a little baby brother or sister” was on the way.
Simon captioned the post explaining what he was thankful for in his life, adding: ‘Today is another milestone in life’s rich journey as another birthday arrived.
Simon announced that he was expecting his second child with wife Derrina back in January 2024
Simon married Derrina in 2021 and they welcomed their first child the following year
His first wife Gemma died aged 40 in November 2017. The couple were married for 12 years
‘Do I wish I was ten years younger? Of course I do. But am I grateful that someone else has come this far, to be gifted another year of life? Massive.’
He continued: These are just a few of the many things I am thankful for today… Having a loving, caring and beautiful wife and a wonderful son and daughter.
‘Having the chance to love again and be loved again after everything that has happened in my life is an incredible blessing.
‘Being a blended family is not always easy at times; and we’ve had to get through a lot of challenges along the way; but I’m so glad we’ve always stuck by each other no matter what season we’re in.
‘And finally, I am excited and grateful that in about three months (just in time for the climax of football season) a little baby brother or sister for Ethan & Talitha will be entering the world.
‘All we hope and pray right now is that they are healthy and unlike Talitha; their entry into this world is a little less dramatic and not quite so early!
‘And finally, and most importantly, I am thankful for God who is always faithful no matter what season I am in.
“(And for those for whom the whole area of having children can be triggering, I hope this hasn’t been hard reading. As someone who went through the pain of fertility issues years ago, I know something about where incredibly hard it is. is.)’
In April 2023, Simon opened up about the traumatic experience of losing his first wife to cancer in 2017 and has revealed how God ‘brought love’ back into his life with Derrina.
He described the pain of his grief in an emotional interview after his wife, Gemma, died within four days of receiving an acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis.
Gemma’s death in 2017 aged 40 resulted in what Thomas describes as a ‘life earthquake’ and as a result of her passing he took time off to care for his eight-year-old son, essentially tearing up his contract with Sky.
The presenter talked about the rapid progression of his wife’s illness and the profound impact it had on his life – including his struggle with his own faith.
‘We started on Monday night with her being diagnosed with some kind of blood cancer. For a few days things looked OK, the treatment was going well, but then things just got out of hand.’
In April 2023, Simon opened up about the traumatic experience of losing his first wife to cancer in 2017 and has revealed how God ‘brought love’ back into his life with Derrina
He continued: ‘On Friday she falls unconscious and at 8.30 on Friday morning I am told by a consultant that “she is not going to see the day”.
‘The very foundation on which your life is built is shaking, there is a massive life earthquake going on. And at 17:45 on that Friday in November 2017 at the age of 40, with an 8-year-old son and a husband, she is gone.
‘The first thing I did when I got out of that hospital was I dropped to my knees and cried out to God “Why? Why, why, why? Why have you left my boy without a mother, I don’t understand. I don’t understand you God!”’.
He has since rebuilt his career, which is now often seen presenting on channels such as Amazon Prime Video.