Brave Simon Thomas to return to TV for Newcastle clash with Crystal Palace tonight three years after wife passed away
SIMON THOMAS will return to our TV screens tonight to host Premier League action for the first time in three years.
The popular host lost his wife Gemma died at the age of 40 to Acute Myloid Leukaemia – an aggressive and rare form of blood cancer - in November 2017.
He then announced he was stepping down from hosting football on Sky Sports at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Thomas has since embarked on an awareness raising campaign for blood cancer and set up the Gemma Thomas Fund.
That raises funds to invest in research projects which focus on improving understanding of AML and its relationship with other blood cancers.
However, he has now decided to head back behind the camera and will host the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United on Amazon Video.
Thomas, who also heartbreakingly lost his dad earlier in the year, said yesterday: “So tomorrow is an important day for me personally.
“Three years ago I went through something very traumatic & life changing.
“I wasn’t sure I could ever do this again.
“But tomorrow I’m incredibly happy to be back and doing some games for Amazon Prime over the next month.”
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Prime Video yesterday confirmed that it will broadcast 23 Premier League games in the festive period across nine match-days.
And its first game of the 20/21 season will get underway later at Selhurst Park.
Thomas is just one of a host of new faces added to the Amazon team of hosts, pundits and commentators.
New additions to the line-up including ex-England players Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Lucy Ward for co-commentary and punditry.
And former Premier League official, Mark Clattenburg, has been announced as Prime Video’s new refereeing pundit.
Premier League fixtures in December
Friday 4 December
20:00 Aston Villa v Newcastle Utd (Sky Sports)
Saturday 5 December
12:30 Burnley v Everton (BT Sport)
15:00 Man City v Fulham (BT Sport)
17:30 West Ham v Man Utd (Sky Sports)
20:00 Chelsea v Leeds Utd (Sky Sports)
Sunday 6 December
12:00 West Brom v Crystal Palace (Sky Sports)
14:15 Sheffield Utd v Leicester City (Sky Sports)
16:30 Spurs v Arsenal (Sky Sports)
19:15 Liverpool v Wolves (Amazon Prime Video)
Monday 7 December
20:00 Brighton v Southampton (Sky Sports)
Friday 11 December
20:00 Leeds Utd v West Ham (Sky Sports)
Saturday 12 December
12:30 Wolves v Aston Villa (BT Sport)
15:00 Newcastle Utd v West Brom (Sky Sports)
17:30 Man Utd v Man City (Sky Sports)
20:00 Everton v Chelsea (BT Sport)
Sunday 13 December
12:00 Southampton v Sheff Utd (Sky Sports)
14:15 Crystal Palace v Spurs (Sky Sports)
16:30 Fulham v Liverpool (Sky Sports)
19:15 Arsenal v Burnley (Sky Sports)
19:15 Leicester City v Brighton (Amazon Prime Video)
Tuesday 15 December
18:00 Wolves v Chelsea (Amazon Prime Video)
20:00 Man City v West Brom (Amazon Prime Video)
Wednesday 16 December
18:00 Arsenal v Southampton (Amazon Prime Video)
18:00 Leeds Utd v Newcastle Utd (Amazon Prime Video)
18:00 Leicester City v Everton (Amazon Prime Video)
20:00 Fulham v Brighton (Amazon Prime Video)
20:00 Liverpool v Spurs (Amazon Prime Video)
20:00 West Ham v Crystal Palace (Amazon Prime Video)
Thursday 17 December
18:00 Aston Villa v Burnley (Amazon Prime Video)
20:00 Sheffield Utd v Man Utd (Amazon Prime Video)
Saturday 19 December
12:30 Crystal Palace v Liverpool (BT Sport)
15:00 Southampton v Man City (Amazon Prime Video)
17:30 Everton v Arsenal (Sky Sports)
20:00 Newcastle Utd v Fulham (Sky Sports)
Sunday 20 December
12:00 Brighton v Sheffield Utd (Sky Sports)
14:15 Spurs v Leicester City (Sky Sports)
16:30 Man Utd v Leeds Utd (Sky Sports)
19:15 West Brom v Aston Villa (BT Sport)
Monday 21 December
17:30 Burnley v Wolves (Sky Sports)
20:00 Chelsea v West Ham (Sky Sports)
Saturday 26 December
12:30 Leicester City v Man Utd (BT Sport)
15:00 Aston Villa v Crystal Palace (BBC)
15:00 Fulham v Southampton (Sky Sports)
17:30 Arsenal v Chelsea (Sky Sports)
20:00 Man City v Newcastle Utd (BT Sport)
20:00 Sheffield Utd v Everton (BT Sport)
Sunday 27 December
12:00 Leeds Utd v Burnley (Sky Sports)
14:15 West Ham v Brighton (Sky Sports)
16:30 Liverpool v West Brom (Sky Sports)
19:15 Wolves v Spurs (Sky Sports)
Monday 28 December
15:00 Crystal Palace v Leicester City (Amazon Prime Video)
17:30 Chelsea v Aston Villa (Amazon Prime Video)
20:00 Everton v Man City (Amazon Prime Video)
Tuesday 29 December
18:00 Brighton v Arsenal (Amazon Prime Video)
18:00 Burnley v Sheffield Utd (Amazon Prime Video)
18:00 Southampton v West Ham (Amazon Prime Video)
18:00 West Brom v Leeds Utd (Amazon Prime Video)
20:00 Man Utd v Wolves (Amazon Prime Video)
Wednesday 30 December
18:00 Spurs v Fulham (Amazon Prime Video)
20:00 Newcastle Utd v Liverpool (Amazon Prime Video)