Sky Sports have announced that Simon Thomas will succeed Jeff Stelling as the host of their Soccer Saturday programme next season.
The 50-year-old former Blue Peter host has vast experience of presenting football on Sky and will now step up to lead one of the broadcasters’ flagship sport programmes when it returns to television screens with the commencement of the new EFL campaign on August 5.
It was reported this week that Sky had narrowed down their list of contenders to host Soccer Saturday to Thomas and Caroline Barker, who has covered a variety of sports both on Sky and the BBC.
But Thomas has now won the race, returning to Sky for the first time since 2018, when he stood down from his role to look after his son Ethan following the death of his wife Gemma in 2017.
Well here’s something I never ever expected to be saying - but next season I will be the new host of the iconic @SkySports #GilletteSoccerSaturday pic.twitter.com/tGwDWBiNkT
— Simon Thomas (@SimonThomasTV) July 16, 2023
He replaces Stelling, 68, who announced in April that he was stepping down as the host of Soccer Saturday at the end of the 2022/23 season after more than 25 years in the job.
“When I left Sky in 2018 for very personal reasons, it was always said the door would be open if I ever wanted to return. I never expected that Gillette Soccer Saturday would be the door that would open,” Thomas said.
“Being asked to present this iconic show and follow in the footsteps of Jeff Stelling, an absolute giant of sports broadcasting, is a massive honour and one I simply cannot wait to get started on.”
Thomas will be joined on Soccer Saturday by fellow new arrival Mike Dean, the former Premier League refereeing stalwart who will be joining the programme to offer analysis on officiating decisions.
Dean retired from on-field refereeing following the 2021/22 campaign but remained involved as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and also coached other officials, before his departure from the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) body was announced on Saturday.
“It feels a bit surreal to be a part of such a well-loved show, but I can’t wait to join the team,” Dean said of joining the Soccer Saturday lineup. “With all the technology available in today’s game, I think it’s crucial that fans understand why decisions have been made, even if they don’t agree with them!”
Sky also confirmed that Soccer Saturday regular Paul Merson would remain as a panelist, along with the likes of Clinton Morrison, Michael Dawson, Sue Smith, Kris Boyd and Tim Sherwood. Julian Warren, meanwhile, remains in his role presenting the programme for midweek matches.
