Simon Thomas feels 'lonely' since wife Gemma's death

Simon Thomas has been struggling to process his grief since his wife Gemma tragically passed away in 2017.

The star appeared on Wednesday’s edition of This Morning for the first of his three-part segment, Pursuits Of Happiness, which sees him focus on mental health and well-being while exploring alternative therapies.

Following a short film of him hiking with a group of youngsters, the former Blue Peter host, 46, chatted to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about the insightful experience, as well as the effect Gemma’s death has had on his son Ethan, nine.

New segment: Simon Thomas appeared on Wednesday’s edition of This Morning for the first of his three-part segment, Pursuits Of Happiness, which sees him focus on mental health and well-being while exploring alternative therapies

The film featured a moving moment which saw Simon at home with Ethan, admitting he feels ‘lonely at times’ since Gemma’s sudden death from leukemia.

‘Now it is just [Ethan] in the morning, when he gets dressed it does feel lonely at times’, he explained. ‘There’s no chance to sit down with Gemma and talk about Ethan and his hopes for him.’ 

He also reflected on how heartbreaking it was for him to have to witness Ethan’s grief.

‘The amount of times in that first year and he was ill and he would cry out mummy and there’s nothing you can do about that.’

Simon travelled to the Ken Galls in Scotland, where he embarked on a hike and met teens for the feature about exploring alternative therapies, such as spending time in nature.  

Tough time: The film featured a moving moment which saw Simon at home with his nine-year-old son Ethan, admitting he feels ‘lonely at times’ since wife Gemma’s sudden death from leukemia (Gemma and Ethan pictured together in happier times) 

Emotional: Following a short film of him hiking with a group of youngsters, the former Blue Peter host, 46, chatted to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield

‘When you think about the mental health world you think right doctors, counselling, the idea of sitting in a room with someone and offloading your heart your soul’, he said. 

‘As I sat down the youngsters before we began to film… I struggled with depression and anxiety and I saw the walls come down.

‘Sadly, how many of their stories came out of bullying, [it’s awful] hearing that as a father to Ethan who is nine years old, still away from the online world…’   

In conversation: Simon chatted to youngsters about why being in nature might help 

He said: ‘Sadly, how many of their stories came out of bullying, [it’s awful] hearing that as a father to Ethan who is nine years old, still away from the online world…’

This marks Simon’s first time presenting again since Gemma’s death in November 2017. 

During the show, Simon will also take part in equestrian therapy and cold water swimming. 

Martin Frizell, editor of This Morning, told The Mirror: ‘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.’ 

The TV star is now dating Darina Webb, 27, who he met in church and previously described as an ‘incredible support’.  

Family: This marks Simon’s first time presenting again since Gemma’s death in November 2017

He said: ‘What I saw in her, I saw in Gemma. When she said my phone is always on, she meant it.’  

Simon previously opened up about telling Ethan about his mother’s passing during another appearance on This Morning. 

He said: ‘I think I woke up every one [in the hospital] as I screamed. I screamed to God saying: “Why have you left my son without my mum?”

‘I got home [afterwards] and grabbed him and looked deep into his brown eyes and said: “They couldn’t make mummy better”.

‘You can’t dress it up. I said: “Mummy’s died”. He collapsed on the floor and I collapsed there with him…

‘He’s been dealt a tough break in life at the age of eight, he’s lost his mum already.’

Honest: Simon previously opened up about telling Ethan about his mother’s passing during an appearance on This Morning