Simon Thomas has opened up about the ‘shame’ he felt after son Ethan discovered his alcoholism, following the tragic death of wife Gemma from blood cancer.
The TV personality, 53, and his son, now 15, were left grief-stricken when Gemma passed away aged 40 in 2017 just three days after she was diagnosed with adult acute myeloid leukemia.
Simon has previously been open about his alcoholism and how he would drink a bottle of vodka a day to cope amid his grief.
During an appearance on Matt Willis’ On The Mend podcast this week he recalled the ways he’d try to hide alcohol and how he’d ‘hurt’ his son by exposing him to things during this time which he wishes the youngster ‘had never seen’.
Simon said: ‘He began to cotton on as the months went on. The reason why Daddy would never let him have a sip of his Diet Coke in the evenings wasn’t because it had caffeine in,’
‘Well, it was partly that, “it’s not great for your bedtime, Ethan” but it’s because Dad had something in there he shouldn’t and I’ve left him with all those memories and that’s… that’s probably, in terms of my recovery from all of that period, almost been harder than letting go of the alcohol. It’s been letting go of the shame’.
Simon Thomas has opened up about the ‘shame’ he felt after son Ethan discovered his alcoholism, following the tragic death of wife Gemma from blood cancer
The TV personality, 53, and his son, now 15, were left grief-stricken when Gemma passed away aged 40 in 2017 just three days after she was diagnosed (Simon and Ethan pictured 2025)
In April 2023, Simon opened up about the traumatic experience of losing Gemma to cancer and has revealed how God ‘brought love’ back into his life with his new partner Derrina.
The couple are now parents to three-year-old daughter Talitha and two-year-old son Theo.
Gemma’s death in 2017 at 40 resulted in what Simon describes as a ‘life earthquake’, and as a result of her passing he took time off to look after his then-eight-year-old son, essentially tearing up his contract at Sky.
The presenter recounted the rapid progression of his wife’s illness, and the profound impact that it had on his life – including his battle with his own faith.
‘We went from Monday night with her being diagnosed with a blood cancer of some sort. For a couple of days, things were looking OK the treatment was going well but then things just cartwheeled out of control.’
He continued: ‘On the Friday she falls unconscious and by 8.30 on Friday morning I’m being told by a consultant ‘she’s not going to see out the day’.
‘The very foundations on which your life has been built are trembling, there’s a massive life earthquake going on. And by 5.45pm on that Friday in November 2017 at the age of 40, with an 8-year-old son and a husband, she’s gone.
Simon has previously been open about his alcoholism and how he would drink a bottle of vodka a day to cope amid his grief (pictured with Theo and Gemma)
Simon opened up about the traumatic experience of losing Gemma and revealed how God ‘brought love’ back into his life with his new partner Derrina (pictured with their daughter)
‘The first thing I did when I came out of that hospital was I just sank to my knees and shouted at God ‘Why? Why, why, why? Why’ve you left my boy without a mum, I don’t get it, I don’t get you God!’.’
In 2024 he paid a heartfelt tribute to his then-pregnant partner Derrina after she helped him through the grief losing Gemma.
He praised her as a wonderful stepmother and said she loves his son Ethan ‘like her own’.
After admitting to drinking heavy amid his grief, he told The Sun: ‘Without a doubt, [Derrina] is the reason Ethan is on a level footing’.
‘She is a mother figure who came into his life, and it’s an amazing sacrifice to love someone else’s child.’
Before adding: ‘So, despite everything that’s happened, Ethan is incredibly lucky and blessed, which is a weird thing to say.’
If you are affected by any of the issues, seek the help of a professional or contact the AA helpline free on 0800 917 7650 to be put in touch with someone locally.
