January 5th 2025.
The highly anticipated return of Channel 4's Sunday Brunch in 2025 was met with a slight hiccup as one of its beloved presenters, Simon Rimmer, was unable to make it to the first show. Fans were disappointed to hear that Simon was unable to attend due to an illness. However, they were delighted to see host Tim Lovejoy, accompanied by chef James Golding, who whipped up a delicious squash salad in Simon's honor.
Tim wasted no time in addressing Simon's absence, explaining to viewers that he was feeling under the weather with a "dodgy tummy." With a playful tone, Tim joked that if anyone had seen Simon out the night before, they should let them know. Simon himself had reposted the show's Instagram post announcing the new season, which was set at a new time of 10am.
The guests for the day included Ella Maisy Purvis, Gwilym Lee, Lou Sanders, Carrie Hope Fletcher, and Dr. Rangan Chatterjee. It was a star-studded lineup for the first episode of the year.
Things had been tough for Simon towards the end of 2024, with two of his restaurants, Greens and its sister Sale, both located in Manchester, closing down. The closure of his restaurant chain also revealed that Simon owed a significant amount of money to creditors. The biggest chunk of the debt was owed to HMRC, with unpaid VAT and PAYE adding up to a staggering £458,873. Trade creditors were also owed £75,000, while consumer creditors were missing around £35,790 due to paying for restaurant vouchers and gift cards. The Royal Bank of Scotland was owed an estimated £13,164.
Simon spoke to the Manchester Evening News about the heartbreaking news, stating that the chain had been the cornerstone of his life, and it was incredibly difficult to make the decision to close it down. He had initially studied fashion and textile design but later taught himself how to cook, eventually opening Greens 34 years ago. His TV career had taken off with appearances on shows like Granada Breeze, This Morning, and The One Show. He then hosted Something for the Weekend with Tim Lovejoy from 2006 to 2012, after which they moved to Channel 4 to present Sunday Brunch.
Simon's talents didn't stop there, as he also appeared on shows like Great British Menu, Celebrity Mastermind, and even competed on Strictly Come Dancing. Fans were eagerly awaiting his return to the show, but unfortunately, his illness had other plans.
Sunday Brunch airs every Sunday at 10am on Channel 4. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, please get in touch with The Agency entertainment team via email or by visiting their Submit Stuff page. They would love to hear from you!
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