Simon Rimmer replaced on Sunday Brunch after presenter feud exposed

27 August 2023 , 12:59

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Simon Rimmer replaced on Sunday Brunch after presenter feud exposed

There was a change-up to the usual presenting line-up on this weekend's Sunday Brunch as Simon Rimmer was a noticeable absence on the Channel 4 show.

During Sunday's edition of the popular cooking based daytime show, Tim Lovejoy was in the studio as normal but was joined by another familiar face instead of close friend Simon.

Tim was left hosting the show alongside former T4 presenter Miquita Oliver who agreed to jump in at the last minute. During the show, Tim informed viewers know that Simon was feeling "poorly" and had agreed with bosses to spend the day at home.

Simon, 60, has hosted the popular show since 2012 alongside Tim, taking a break earlier this year when he lost his beloved father.

Miquita Oliver was a new face in the Sunday Brunch studio this weekend

The chef's absence on Bank Holiday weekend comes after he revealed a shock 'feud' with Saturday Kitchen's Matt Tebbutt.

EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness

Matt has fronted Saturday Kitchen on BBC show since 2016 when he took over from James Martin. Simon has joked that he and Tim are 'at war' with Matt as he spoke about their alleged rivalry.

Simon said he once tried to get Matt removed from the billing of food festival Pub in the Park. Speaking to James Golding on his Always In Season podcast, Simon said: "As you know on Sunday Brunch we have sort of mock rivalry with Saturday Kitchen so I spoke to Chris and said, 'Listen I think what you need to do is ditch Matt Tebbutt from all Pub in the Parks and let me take over his role'."

The alleged 'feud' kicked off in 2020 when Simon described Saturday Kitchen as a 'weaker version' of his Channel 4 show with Lovejoy.

Saturday Kitchen's Matt Tebbutt took over from James Martin in 2016 (Instagram)

"At the end of the day, they're a weaker version of what we do," Simon joked during an appearance on Chris Moyles Radio X show.

"You sit there and you look at Tebbutt with his posh face and you go, 'Come on Tebbutt. Get a grip. You're a lazy presenter. Work a bit harder'."

However, Matt has previously stated there is no drama between the two teams as they cater to very different audiences. He also said he and Simon were united in their concern for how long their respective shows would continue to stay on air.

Speaking to the Express, Matt said: "I am very good friends with Simon Rimmer, he’s got as some would say a rival show on Channel 4. It’s not. They’ve just got a difference audience.

Simon has the same fears as I do, you wonder how long the show is going to go on for, you fear because it’s a live show if you say the wrong thing, because you can upset a lot of people quickly on live TV. The fine line I have to tread is between remembering it’s telly and not just a chat with some mates."

Lucy Needham