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Simon Thomas ‘finds love again’ a year after the heartbreaking death of his wife

Gemma tragically passed away in November 2017

Author: Nathan KatnoriaPublished 30th Dec 2018
Last updated 31st Dec 2018

TV presenter Simon Thomas has reportedly found a new love, 12 months after the tragic death of his wife Gemma.

Simon, who rose to fame on Blue Peter before going on to present Sky Sports, is thought to be dating church minister’s daughter Derrina Jebb.

Simon with late wife Gemma and son Ethan

The pair have been seen together in pictures obtained by a national newspaper, with a source saying, “The relationship came as a shock because it was not something Simon was looking for at all. But as soon as he met Derrina the pair had a connection.

“She is a Christian and the daughter of a well-respected minister.”

Simon describes himself as “a man of faith” and recently revealed that he had met a fellow Christian but didn’t give any further details. It’s believed that he and Derrina started as friends but have grown closer in recent times.

“Their connection has gone from strength-to-strength and Derrina really has been a huge support for him through this awful time,” the source added.

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Simon’s late wife Gemma passed away in November last year at the age of 40, just three days after receiving a diagnosis of Acute Myloid Leukaemia.

He announced her death in a heartbreaking tweet, which read, 'Today I am crushed with indescribable pain. Just three days after falling ill with Acute Myloid Leukaemia, my dear wife Gemma passed away yesterday evening surrounded by her family and friends.' sic

Simon and Gemma shared a nine-year-old son, Ethan, with the TV presenter candidly sharing the moment he told Ethan that his mum had died during a moving appearance on This Morning earlier this year.

He said, “I came out of the hospital and I think I woke up every patient there... and I just screamed. I screamed at God 'why have you left my boy without his mum'.

"My heart was pounding. He Ethan went in to see her twice that day.

"I didn’t tell Ethan she was going. I said, 'Mummy is seriously ill' and I held him to her ear a couple of times and he said he loved her and then he went to play with his cousins."

Moving Holly Willoughby to tears, he added, “I looked into his deep brown eyes and said Ethan I’m really sorry they couldn’t make mummy better. "You can't dress it up. I said Mummy’s died. He collapsed onto the floor. I collapsed with him. I just held him. I would never wish that on my worst enemy," he continued.

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