Sunday Brunch host Simon Rimmer says Channel 4 show 'would NEVER get commissioned now'

The TV chef, 55, has presented Sunday Brunch with pal and co-host Tim Lovejoy, 50, since it first aired in 2012. Speaking to Express.co.uk at the launch of Flora’s new plant-based range, Simon Rimmer called his role “the best job in the world”. “We get paid to have the best time,” he enthused. Sunday Brunch, which runs for three hours every Sunday morning, often takes a turn for the chaotic and Simon also acknowledged the wonderfully eccentric segments and lines of questioning the celebrity guests are sometimes subjected to. “It’s a b****y long show,” he said. “When you get American guests on who don’t know the show, they’re completely baffled and because we talk nonsense you can see them thinking, is this actually being broadcast?” he laughed.

Noting how guests on the show are often on a “promo loop” when they appear, the presenter said because Sunday Brunch gives the stars more air time, they tend to look for more obscure topics to ask them about.

“The more mundane the better for us,” he chuckled.

“We’re allowed to play, we’re lucky that we are allowed to do that,” he conceded. “I don’t think there’s another show on tele that is that loose

“It would never get commissioned now.

“Shows like ours are very old-fashioned in a nice way,” Simon explained. “Live tele is harder and harder to get commissioned.”

The chef said the series has become “part of Sunday morning, adding: “That’s the greatest compliment I can ever be given by anybody.

Insisting the show wouldn’t work on any other day, he said: “It works on a Sunday and that’s it. It’s that thing where you’re a bit hungover, you haven’t got no agenda so you you think, I’ll just sit and watch these two idiots talk c**p for three hours.”

In addition to Sunday Brunch, fans know Simon for starring on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2017.

He was partnered with Karen Clifton, 36, and also opened up about an emotional struggle going on behind-the-scenes during his time on the BBC show.

“I’ve never said this to anyone before,” he told Epress.co.uk. “[During Strictly] my dad had a really serious heart operation. My dad was really poorly when I did it.

“And Karen was just amazing,” he added.

Simon praised the Venezuelan-born dancer for helping him cope with the distressing situation concurrent with Strictly training.

“She was absolutely amazing. We actually trained on the day my dad had his heart operation.

“And my dad’s 85 and I was really concerned that he wasn’t going to pull through,” he admitted.

“Aside from anything else, that day she was just the most wonderful human being, she was fantastic,” he said earnestly.

Simon said his father was “fine” after the operation and is well today.

Sunday Brunch airs Sundays at 9.30am on Channel 4.

source: express.co.uk