Sunday Brunch: Tim Lovejoy reveals Simon Rimmer is ill
Sunday Brunch star Simon Rimmer was absent from today's show after he was 'replaced' by a chef.
The Channel 4 chat show saw guests Ella Maisy Purvis, Gwilym Lee, Lou Sanders, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Dr Rangan Chatterjee appear on the show on Sunday morning (January 5), with live music from Franz Ferdinand.
However, a minute into the show, Tim Lovejoy announced he was presenting solo, with his co-host and chef Simon Rimmer nowhere to be seen.
He welcomed viewers to the show at its new timeslot of 10am, but confirmed that Simon Rimmer was unwell and unable to appear on Sunday Brunch.
Tim Lovejoy told viewers: "Sadly, Simon Rimmer is a bit ill today. He's got a bit of a dodgy tummy."
The 56-year-old presenter went on to joke while making a drinking gesture: "So he says, I mean, he saw him out last night, you know, last night."
The TV chef was replaced by tattooed chef James Golding, who has previously stepped in for Simon on the Channel 4 show. The chef was on hand to cook Simon's Squash Salad as well as his own dish.
Fans at home wished Simon the best and he would get well soon. One said: "Aww get well soon Simon" as another wrote: "Hope Simon is well enough to watch the football today"
Other viewers joked: "Where’s Simon? Is there no fill-in presenter?" while another shared: "Simon Rimmer pulled a sticky!"
James Golding has previously worked at The Savoy Hotel, as well as Le Caprice, The Ivy and J Sheekey, as well as make numerous TV appearances.
He was recently head chef at Harbour Heights in Sandbanks and The Pig Hotel in Dorset.
Simon Rimmer's absence from Sunday Brunch comes as it was announced Simon Rimmer will present his own radio show on Global's Gold Radio.
Working alongside his Sunday Brunch role, Simon will serve up a fresh weekend show packed with classic golden oldies from the 1960s through the 1980s on Saturdays from 8am to 12pm.
The chef-turned-presenter said: "To host my own radio show is a dream come true, and to do it on Gold Radio is the icing on the cake."
Sunday Brunch airs weekly at 10pm on Channel 4.
