Simon Thomas (television presenter)
Encyclopedia
Simon Thomas is a British
television presenter, who worked on Blue Peter
for six years.
, Norfolk
to Andrew and Gill Thomas. He has two sisters called Hannah and Rebecca. Although Thomas initially grew up in Cromer, Norfolk and then Grimston, Norfolk where he attended Grimston primary and middle School, the family later moved to Surrey, where he attended Aberdour School
in Tadworth, and St. John's School, Leatherhead
. After leaving school, he went to Birmingham University, where he graduated with a 2:1 BA Hons degree in history.
on 8 January 1999 replacing the sacked presenter Richard Bacon
. Previously he had worked as a runner at Children's BBC and the radio station LBC
. During his tenure at Blue Peter, he ran in the London Marathon
twice and two Great North Runs, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc
too, completed over 40 solo sky dives with the Royal Air Force
, presented a medal at the Commonwealth Games
, ran in the 60 metres sprint at the Norwich Union Indoor Athletics against Frankie Fredericks
and Darren Campbell
and even directed an edition of the show. He also presented the Queen with a Gold Blue Peter badge
when she visited the studio and remarked on presenting Her Majesty with the badge that "she could get into the Tower of London free with it".
Thomas co-presented with Stuart Miles, Katy Hill
, Konnie Huq
, Matt Baker, Liz Barker
and Zöe Salmon
.
Thomas announced his intention to leave Blue Peter in January 2005, and his last live show was aired on 25 April of that year.
from Steps; and in 2003 with Fearne Cotton
. He also presented BBC Radio 3's Making Tracks with Matt Baker.
, Thomas joined Sky Sports
in June 2005 and presents from 3-7pm on Sky Sports News
, alongside Georgie Thompson
. He also presents Cricket AM during the summer on Sky Sports 1 with Sarah-Jane Mee and has presented the Sky Sports Victory Shield, England's U21's games, Centenary Shield, International Cricket, Sky Sports News Cricket World Cup Report, the Mosconi Cup
from Las Vegas
, Sky Sports World Cup report from Cape Town 2010 and Sky Sports News's coverage of the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Since the 2010/2011 Football Season, Simon has also presented some Npower Championship League games.
, a liberal arts, faith & campaigning Festival held at Cheltenham Racecourse
.
Sky Sports - World Cup Report, June 2010 - July 2010
Sky Sports - Ryder Cup 2010
Sky Sports - Ashes 2010/11
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television presenter, who worked on Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
for six years.
Early life
Simon Thomas was born in NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
to Andrew and Gill Thomas. He has two sisters called Hannah and Rebecca. Although Thomas initially grew up in Cromer, Norfolk and then Grimston, Norfolk where he attended Grimston primary and middle School, the family later moved to Surrey, where he attended Aberdour School
Aberdour School
Aberdour School, founded in 1933, is a co-educational preparatory school for ages 3–13 in Banstead, Surrey, England.-History:Aberdour was founded in 1933 as a boys boarding school...
in Tadworth, and St. John's School, Leatherhead
St. John's School, Leatherhead
St. John's School, Leatherhead is a public school in Surrey, England. It has about 420 male pupils and 60 female pupils, and from 2010 it will be fully co-educational....
. After leaving school, he went to Birmingham University, where he graduated with a 2:1 BA Hons degree in history.
Blue Peter
Having applied for the job three times Thomas began presenting the children's programme Blue PeterBlue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
on 8 January 1999 replacing the sacked presenter Richard Bacon
Richard Bacon (television presenter)
Richard Paul Bacon is an English television and radio presenter.Bacon's first high-profile media role was as a presenter of Blue Peter, from which he was sacked in 1998 following newspaper reports of him taking cocaine...
. Previously he had worked as a runner at Children's BBC and the radio station LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
. During his tenure at Blue Peter, he ran in the London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
twice and two Great North Runs, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco , meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
too, completed over 40 solo sky dives with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, presented a medal at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, ran in the 60 metres sprint at the Norwich Union Indoor Athletics against Frankie Fredericks
Frankie Fredericks
Frank Fredericks is a former athlete from Namibia. Running in the 100 metres and 200 metres, he won four silver medals at the Olympic Games , making him Namibia's first and so far only Olympic medalist...
and Darren Campbell
Darren Campbell
Darren Andrew Campbell MBE is a former English sprint athlete. He competed in the 100 metres and 200 metres, as well as the 4 × 100 metres relay...
and even directed an edition of the show. He also presented the Queen with a Gold Blue Peter badge
Blue Peter badge
A Blue Peter badge is a much coveted award for Blue Peter viewers, given by the children's television programme for those appearing on the show, or in recognition of achievement...
when she visited the studio and remarked on presenting Her Majesty with the badge that "she could get into the Tower of London free with it".
Thomas co-presented with Stuart Miles, Katy Hill
Katy Hill
Katy Hill is an English television presenter, who worked on the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter for five years.-Biography:...
, Konnie Huq
Konnie Huq
Kanak Asha "Konnie" Huq is a British television presenter, who is best known for being the longest-serving female presenter of Blue Peter, having presented it from 1 December 1997 until 23 January 2008...
, Matt Baker, Liz Barker
Liz Barker
Elizabeth Jane 'Liz' Barker is a television presenter on British television. She has one younger sister, Suzanne and is a distant relative of guitarist Dave Hill....
and Zöe Salmon
Zöe Salmon
Zöe Salmon is a television presenter who hosted the children's television show Blue Peter from 23 December 2004 to 25 June 2008. She also appeared on Dancing on Ice in early 2009.-Life and career:...
.
Thomas announced his intention to leave Blue Peter in January 2005, and his last live show was aired on 25 April of that year.
BBC
Thomas presented CBBC Proms in the Park in Hyde Park in 2002 with Matt Baker and Faye TozerFaye Tozer
Faye Louise Tozer is an English singer, songwriter and actress; famous for being a member of pop group Steps.-Music:Steps were a pop group that achieved a series of charted singles between 1997 and 2001...
from Steps; and in 2003 with Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
. He also presented BBC Radio 3's Making Tracks with Matt Baker.
Sky Sports
After leaving the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, Thomas joined Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
in June 2005 and presents from 3-7pm on Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News
Sky Sports News is a 24-hour sports news channel in the United Kingdom. It is run by BSkyB whose sports channels include Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as Sky Sports HD1, HD2, HD3 and HD4....
, alongside Georgie Thompson
Georgie Thompson
Georgina Jane 'Georgie' Thompson is an English broadcast journalist and television presenter for Sky Sports and Sky Sports News.-Education:...
. He also presents Cricket AM during the summer on Sky Sports 1 with Sarah-Jane Mee and has presented the Sky Sports Victory Shield, England's U21's games, Centenary Shield, International Cricket, Sky Sports News Cricket World Cup Report, the Mosconi Cup
Mosconi Cup
The Mosconi Cup is an annual nine-ball pool tournament contested between teams representing Europe and the USA since 1994. The trophy is named after American player Willie Mosconi, and is modeled on and compared to the Ryder Cup in golf...
from Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Sky Sports World Cup report from Cape Town 2010 and Sky Sports News's coverage of the 2010 Ryder Cup.
Since the 2010/2011 Football Season, Simon has also presented some Npower Championship League games.
Other work
In August 2009 and August 2010, Simon compered on the Main Stage at GreenbeltGreenbelt festival
Greenbelt Festival is a festival of arts, faith and justice held annually in England since 1974. Greenbelt has grown from a Christian music festival with an audience of 1,500 young Christians to its current more secular festival attended by around 20,000 - Christians and non-Christians.The festival...
, a liberal arts, faith & campaigning Festival held at Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
.
Personal life
Simon lives in SW London and is married to Gemma Thomas and has one child called Ethan. He is a life long supporter of Norwich City FCFilmography
- BBC Blue Peter - January 1999-April 2005;
- CBBC Proms in the Park - September 2002, September 2003;
- BBC Radio 3 - 'Making Tracks';
- Sky Sports News - June 2005–present;
- Sky Sports Cricket AM - May 2006–2009;
- Sky Sports - Victory Shield;
- Sky Sports - England Under 21s;
- Sky Sports News Cricket World Cup Report - March-April 2007;
- Sky Sports - Mosconi Cup, December 2007;
Sky Sports - World Cup Report, June 2010 - July 2010
Sky Sports - Ryder Cup 2010
Sky Sports - Ashes 2010/11