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Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield break down as Simon Thomas opens up about wife’s death

It was an unrelentingly heartbreaking interview

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Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were overcome with emotion on This Morning as Simon Thomas opened up about his late wife’s death.

The former Sky Sports presenter spoke for the first time on TV after wife Gemma died of cancer last November, just three days after being diagnosed with the condition.

As he revealed that he howled at God for taking his mother’s son away, host Holly was unable to stem a flood of tears rolling down her face.

Each presenter took turns to comfort the other during the interview with Phillip also breaking down and having to pause and compose himself.

As Phillip passed Holly a tissue, her voice cracked before she apologised for crying and praised the widower for his bravery.

Holly reaches out to comfort Simon (Credit: ITV)

Read more: Simon Thomas says he’s “merely surviving” in heartbreaking blog post about wife Gemma’s death

Phillip, too, had to reach for the tissues, and brushed his hands across his lap anxiously moments before his voice also failed.

In an attempt to further stifle the outburst of emotion, the veteran host also chewed on his finger and looked towards the floor.

Describing the heartbreaking moment he broke the news of Gemma’s death to his son Ethan, Simon recalled he “wouldn’t wish the moment on his worst enemy”.

Simon’s story had the hosts in tears (Credit: ITV)

“I think I woke up every one [in the hospital] as I screamed,” he said, recalling the moments Gemma slipped away.

“I screamed to God saying: ‘Why have you left my son without my mum?'”

Simon also revealed he was worried how Ethan would cope with being told his mum had gone.

Holding back emotion, he said: “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.

Simon is now a single dad to eight year old Ethan (Credit: ITV)

“He went in to see her twice that day [when she died]. I held him to her ear a couple of times, he said he loved her.

“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’.

Holly comforts Phillip (Credit: ITV)

“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.”

As the interview ended, Phillip struggled to express himself but noted This Morning would help to raise money in Gemma’s memory.

Gemma was only 40 when she died (Credit: ITV)

Viewers were also moved to tears, with many praising Simon for his dignity and Holly and Phillip for their sensitivity:

Read more: This Morning viewers’ hearts melted by smile of adorable child model Cora as she catches herself on TV

Were you moved by Simon’s interview on This Morning? Let us know what you think by commenting on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.


Robert Leigh
Freelance writer