Simon launched his TV presenting career in January 1999 on the iconic BBC 1 show Blue Peter becoming its 27th presenter.
In his 6 years presenting the show he experienced a number of highlights ranging from sky diving with the RAF Falcons, racing Darren Campbell, Frankie Fredericks and Jason Gardner over 60 metres at an International Indoor Athletics Meeting and presented Her Majesty the Queen with a gold Blue Peter badge.
He also co-hosted CBBC’s Proms in the Park with Matt Baker and Fearne Cotton in 2002 and 2003.
Simon then joined Sky Sports as a presenter in June 2005 and has been one of Sky Sports News’ leading presenters for the last seven years.
Simon’s versatility saw him become the first ever presenter of Sky Sports’ Cricket AM programme in May 2006 where he presented the Saturday morning summer magazine show for four years alongside Anita Rani and then Sarah-Jane Mee.
Along with being a regular presenter on the Afternoon Report alongside Georgie Thompson and currently Kirsty Gallacher, Simon has also presented Sky Sports News’s World Cup Report in Cape Town in 2010, anchored Sky Sports News’s coverage of the 2010 Ryder Cup and the 2010-11 Ashes Series in Australia. He will also be part of their presenting team at the Olympic Games in London this August.
For the 2011-12 Football Season Simon became the main presenter for Sky Sports’ Football League coverage alongside his work on Sky Sports News. He presented 80 live games including the Championship, League 1 and League 2 Play Off Finals at Wembley. Simon will continue in this role for the 2012-13 season.
Away from the camera, Simon is equally at home with live events – he has compered the main stage at Greenbelt festivals and the ECB Twenty20 in 2005, as well as hosting Chelsea FC’s end-of-season dinner in 2005.
Simon is a lifelong Norwich City fan and despite not getting on the pitch ‘Delia-style’ to rev up the crowd, he is very much involved with the club as an Ambassador for the club’s Community Sports Foundation and Vice President of the Norwich City Supporters Trust.
In footballing terms Simon’s age would put him comfortably in the ‘veteran’ category, but three London Marathons, numerous half marathons and now thoughts of a triathlon next year are enough evidence of a man operating below his years. He is also a keen scuba diver and lists the Blue Hole in Belize as his diving highlight and cave diving in Wales as the one he wouldn’t want to repeat!
Away from work Simon's main ambition is to get his pilots licence, but this James Bond image is balanced by listing gardening and photography as his other hobbies. He also continues a long-term involvement with a charity called ‘Oasis Trust’.
Simon lives in Reading with his wife Gemma and son Ethan.
SKY Profile: http://www.skysports.com/skysportsnews/presenter/0,28697,19459,00.html
"'I've worked with Simon over a number of years and have always thoroughly enjoyed it. As a professional sportsman it is always refreshing when the television presenter you work with truly 'knows' and loves the game, and this is the case with Simon. I've always felt at ease with his relaxed style on camera and it helps that he's also a very nice fella!!"
Clarke Carlisle, PFA Chairman
"I presented Sky Sports News' Afternoon Report alongside Si for 4 years. Obviously he's great at what he does, a consummate professional with a nose for a good story but he's also brilliant to work with; a real team player who strikes a perfect balance between having fun on air and doing the job well."
Georgie Thompson, TV Presenter