Holly Willoughby Bursts Into Tears During Simon Thomas’ Emotional Interview

By : On : 27 Feb 2018 11:19
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Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas left Holly Willoughby, as well as viewers across the nation, in tears during his first interview since his wife Gemma died in November.

Simon appeared on ITV’s This Morning to talk about how he’s coping with his loss, while bringing up his young son, Ethan.

His wife Gemma died just three days after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at the end of November, leaving behind her husband and their eight-year-old child.

Watch a clip of the interview here:

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The 45-year-old was recalling the moment he had to break the tragic news to Ethan. Tears started rolling down Holly’s cheeks as he told them how his son ‘fell to the floor’.

Her voice cracked as she tried to ask Simon more questions about his loss, apologising for crying and praising Simon for being brave.

Simon has spoken openly and honestly about his struggles since losing Gemma and has been sharing his story with his followers on social media – and through his blog, A Grief Shared.

It wasn’t just Holly struggling to keep her emotions under control, Simon’s story had viewers in bits as well:

Simon wants to raise awareness of the disease and wants to inspire people who’ve suffered a loss, by sharing his story.

One thing Simon has been doing is sharing photos of  ‘snack notes’ he’s been writing for Ethan.

The snack notes are inspirational and motivational messages which Ethan takes to school to ‘keep him going’.

Now, a stranger has taken it upon himself to write a note for every single day of 2018 for Simon, too.

In his latest post, Simon wrote:

Today’s #snacknote is a bit different.

Since Gemma went I have been so moved by the support and messages I get from people on here, people I haven’t even met, yet people who care about me and what I’m going through.

A guy called Dan Ritchie, who I have yet to meet (but will) had seen my notes for Ethan and felt I needed some too, to encourage me and help me keep going when I feel like giving up.

So he’s written me a daily note too – for every single day of the coming year! That’s #lightinthedarkness right there.

Fellow sports broadcaster Jake Humphrey tweeted:

Wow. Wow. Wow.

The kindness out there can be completely humbling. Dan. Whoever you are, wherever you are…We need a whole world of Dans.

Could not agree more.

Simon and Ethan endured both Christmas and New Year in a few weeks after losing Gemma.

On Christmas Eve, Simon posted:

A time for each other. A time for holding that person you cherish that bit closer. A time to say I love you that bit more intensely.

A time to eat drink and be brilliantly merry. I will remember those times with my wife Gemma tomorrow & miss her so very much.

Happy Christmas xx

After New Year, Simon shared a heartbreaking message saying he was returning to the family home for the first time since Gemma had passed away.

He wrote:

So tomorrow it’s home time. Except it’s not the home I want to be in anymore. Since Gemma went I’ve managed 30 seconds in our bedroom before breaking down. The room where we slept and held each other, now a room of pain.

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?

Our friends have been beyond amazing, yet I now feel not just in a different place to them, but in a different universe. The meals, the play dates, the fun is now achingly different. As their family life continues and for some, new babies arrive, I feel like an alien.

It’s like my life has been put back into reverse. In three horrible days I’m back to being single. Back to having no idea how to really cook. Back to the place I never really enjoyed. Career suddenly in reverse. The massive difference now is I have my precious boy to look after. I pray to God that if nothing else, I can do this last bit.

You can read Simon’s blog, A Grief Shared, here.