Holly Willoughby left in tears as Simon Thomas reveals the moment he told his son about his wife's death
He appeared on the show today
Last updated 27th Feb 2018
TV presenter Simon Thomas lost his wife Gemma Thomas in November last year, just three days after she was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukaemia. Although he's been very vocal on social media to raise awareness in her tribute, Simon opened up for the first time on TV in a very emotional interview.
Appearing on This Morning with hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, Simon opened about the tough time he's been through over the last couple of months, and revealed the heartbreaking moment he told his son that his mum had died.
Speaking to Holly and Phillip, Simon revealed his eight-year-old broke down and fell on the floor when he told him the awful news about his mum.
He said, "I think I woke up everyone as I screamed. I screamed to God saying, 'Why have you left my son without my mum?' I could remember his reaction to losing a toy and I'm like I've got to go home and tell him his mum's gone.
"He went into see her twice that day. I held him to her ear a couple of times, he said he loved her. I got home and grabbed him and looked deep into his brown eyes and said, 'They couldn't make mummy better'".
As Simon recalled the heartbreaking moment, Holly and Phillip were getting visibly upset, with tears streaming down Holly's face.
Simon continued, adding he told Ethan, "You can't dress it up. I said, 'Mummy's died'".
He then revealed, "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."
Watch the emotional interview below:
After the interview ended, Simon took to his Instagram page to share a photo of himself on the This Morning sofa, adding, 'An emotional morning'.
After the emotional interview aired, messages of support came flooding in for the sports presenter.
One viewer wrote, 'What an inspiration @simonjthomassky an emotional interview but very real. Love to you both xx', with another adding, 'That was so heart breaking but so honest & straight from the heart. A subject close to everybody's heart. I wish you & your amazing son all the best for the future xxx'. sic
Another then wrote, 'I was heartbroken watching you this morning. You were amazing and so brave. I can’t even begin to imagine what you must be feeling but you and Ethan are doing amazing! sic
Simon first confirmed his wife had passed away in November last year, with a heartbreaking statement posted on social media.
Taking to Twitter, Simon shared the incredibly sad news as he wrote, '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. If you are a prayer - pray for my boy Ethan. 8yrs, precious and in bits. Thank you. sic
After Christmas and New Year, Simon then shared another statement on Instagram, explaining how he was feeling as he prepared to go back to the home he shared with his wife and son.
It read, 'Since Gemma went I've managed 30 seconds in our bedroom before breaking down'. He went on to explain that the room where they slept and held each other was 'now a room of pain'.
He continued, 'Now is not the time for snap decisions and new starts, but how on earth do I deal with a house that has her creative touch woven into its very being? A house that sings Gemma?'. sic