Sunday Brunch star Tim Lovejoy’s life – tragic loss, ex-wife split and job fail
Channel 4 fans are well used to the antics of Sunday Brunch presenters Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer – complete with on-set storm offs, fires in the kitchen and plenty of awkward moments.
But even the most avid watcher might not know much about Tim’s life off-air, including his eye-watering net worth, twin daughters and split from his ex-wife.
The host made his name as a host on MTV and a researcher for The Big Breakfast in the early days of his career, before moving on to bigger and better things including Soccer AM.
READ MORE: Sunday Brunch in chaos as chef 'walks off set' midway through Channel 4 show
It hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows, however, as Tim has had to battle failed auditions, his book flopping and tragic losses.
We take a look into his life when the cameras aren’t rolling.
Job woes
It hasn’t all been easy for Tim in the entertainment industry, as he was pushed back from a dream gig in the early days of his presenting career.
He initially auditioned for a job presenting hit BBC One kids’ show Blue Peter back in 1998, but failed to land the gig.
However, 10 years later his dreams came true, as he landed a guest presenting job on the show to fill in for Countryfile’s Helen Skelton.
He told The Sun: “I auditioned in 1998 when I first started presenting. But I don't think my skills at making things were quite up to scratch.
"Despite being turned down then, I am delighted that Blue Peter has asked me on."
And the reviews for his book Lovejoy on Football was slated when it came to reviews from critics, with When Saturday Comes writer Taylor Parkes branding it “tedious in the extreme… Hopelessly banal and nauseatingly self-assured, smirkingly unfunny.”
Famous partner
Though Tim used to be married to his wife Jade Lovejoy, he later moved on to have a four-year relationship with netball player Tamsin Greenway.
As a former England netball international player, she scooped bronze medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2011 and 2015 Netball World Cups.
She now works as a netball pundit for Sky Sports, as well as acting as the head coach of the Scotland netball team.
Confirming their split, Tim’s agent announced in 2016: “Tim and Tamsin have sadly split up. They have a daughter together who remain their priority."
A source added to The Mirror that the pair “tried to make it work”, adding: “They are still the best of friends and have a lot of shared memories together.”
Tamsin is now engaged to Jo Feldman, and the pair share a child, Casey Jaxx, together.
Family life
Tim shares a pair of 20-year-old twin daughters Grace and Rose with his ex-wife Jade Lovejoy, and a younger daughter, Jamie, with his ex Tamsin Greenway.
Speaking in 2016 when the girls were younger, Tim admitted he’s no stranger to sparkles and hair clips as the single bloke in a family full of girls.
He told Bella Magazine: “It's funny actually. I remember years ago, because I've pretty much been a single dad with all my kids.
“I remember sitting there and all my mates were laughing because one of the kids came down with their Barbie doll and said: 'Dad, can you put the shoes back on, and the dress?’
“I’m so used to it that I just got on with it.”
He has also been branded “embarrassing” by his daughters for commenting on their social media snaps – and confessed to being sleep deprived when looking after his kids.
Tim said not being around his kids after the split was “horrendous”, telling The Mirror: “It’s horrendous. It’s been really hard.
"I’ve never got used to not being around my children. I have to deal with it but it’s not the best thing.”
Tragic loss
Tim was left devastated by the loss of his brother James, who died at the tender age of just 37 from pancreatic cancer.
Doctors had told James he was “more likely to win the lottery” than be seriously ill as they dismissed his stomach aches as symptoms of IBS, though when they finally ran tests they found a tumour.
Tim admitted that the family were initially optimistic due to James’ young age and gruelling treatment plan, but the cancer was sadly found to be terminal.
Speaking on the Marie Curie podcast after his death, Tim said: “You know, I wish I could have had conversations with him about death, if I'm honest with you, though it happened so quickly at the end that there was never an opportunity to do that.”
He added: “You have anger – it was anger towards why this had happened to my brother and there's a myriad of emotions that hit you. You don't know what to do. No one knows what to do.”
Huge net worth and gift to daughters
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Tim is reported to have an eye-watering net worth of $1.6million – the equivalent of £1.2million in GBP – accumulated after his decades-long career in television.
And it seems plenty of that cash will be going to his daughters upon the event of his death, as he explained that he’s already shown them where to find his will.
Speaking on the Marie Curie podcast, he explained: “Literally this week I showed my daughters where my will was, where all my money's kept, where all my savings are and stuff.
“They're 17 now so they're more than capable of having that conversation. I'm trying to make it as easy as possible for them.
“I have to die at some stage, and so I might as well discuss it with them. I have no problem discussing death.”
The star went on: “I’d love to die with my daughters surrounding me. So I could talk to them and give them all my stories.
“I’d like to have my last day sitting in bed or wherever, talking to them. And I'd like a cup of tea.
“Hopefully, that's the way most people get to die, with their loved ones around them.”
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