Simon Anthony Blackburn: Family, Age and Advertising Career
Tony Blackburn and Tessa Wyatt’s son chose advertising over show business. Here’s what is reliably known about his age, parents, children, work and family life.
Introduction
Simon Anthony Blackburn is the British son of radio presenter Tony Blackburn and actress Tessa Wyatt. He was born on 8 April 1973. He works in advertising and has two sons, Harry and George. Unlike his famous parents, Simon has kept most of his adult life away from celebrity coverage.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Simon Anthony Blackburn |
| Date of birth | 8 April 1973 |
| Age in 2026 | 53 |
| Nationality | British |
| Father | Tony Blackburn |
| Mother | Tessa Wyatt |
| Profession | Advertising professional |
| Known for | Being Tony Blackburn and Tessa Wyatt’s son |
| Paternal half-sister | Victoria Blackburn |
| Children | Harry and George |
| Public life | Mostly private |
Who Is Simon Anthony Blackburn?
Simon Anthony Blackburn is best known publicly as Tony Blackburn’s son.
His mother is actress Tessa Wyatt.
Both parents became familiar names in British entertainment, yet Simon Anthony Blackburn chose a different type of work. He went into advertising.
That choice kept him off-screen.
He has rarely given interviews. Most reliable information about Simon comes from his father’s interviews, old family reports and professional media coverage.
Readers interested in other British public figures may know Tony Blackburn far better than Simon. That makes sense. Simon never built his career around public fame.
When Was Simon Anthony Blackburn Born?
Simon Anthony Blackburn was born on 8 April 1973.
That date comes from Tony Blackburn’s own account of his family life.
It also helps stop name confusion.
Several people are called Simon Blackburn. One British company record even lists another Simon Anthony Blackburn with a different birth year.
That isn’t Tony Blackburn’s son.
The Simon discussed here was born in 1973.
How Old Is Simon Anthony Blackburn?
Simon Anthony Blackburn is 53 years old in 2026.
He turned 53 on 8 April 2026.
His birth year matters because online pages sometimes attach details from other men with the same or similar name.
The 1973 date is the one linked to Tony Blackburn and Tessa Wyatt’s son.
Who Is Simon Anthony Blackburn’s Father?
His father is Tony Blackburn.
Tony’s full name is Anthony Kenneth Blackburn.
He became one of Britain’s best-known radio presenters and was the first DJ heard when BBC Radio 1 began broadcasting in September 1967.
Radio became Tony’s life.
Simon chose another direction.
Even so, Tony has spoken about his son many times over the years, including Simon’s childhood, his advertising work and Tony’s grandchildren.
Who Is Simon Anthony Blackburn’s Mother?
His mother is Tessa Wyatt.
She is an English actress known for British television work.
Tessa appeared in a number of programmes and became widely recognised through the sitcom Robin’s Nest.
Tony Blackburn and Tessa Wyatt married before Simon was born.
Their relationship later ended.
Simon was still a small child.
What Was Simon Anthony Blackburn’s Childhood Like?
Simon Anthony Blackburn was around three when his parents separated.
He mainly lived with his mother.
Tony still saw his son regularly.
In later interviews, Tony talked about spending weekends with Simon and then taking him home again. He described those Sunday goodbyes as hard for him.
There are old family photos too.
One photograph from 1976 shows Tony Blackburn with three-year-old Simon inside the recording studio at their home near Maidenhead, Berkshire.
Radio was around him early.
But Simon didn’t choose broadcasting.
Did Simon Anthony Blackburn Stay Close to Tony Blackburn?
Public comments from Tony suggest they stayed close.
Tony has spoken warmly about Simon across different interviews.
He said he continued seeing his son after separating from Tessa Wyatt. Their relationship carried into Simon’s adult life.
Years later, Tony also talked about Simon’s own children.
So the family connection continued.
Simon himself doesn’t talk much publicly, which means Tony’s interviews give most of the available picture.
What Does Simon Anthony Blackburn Do?
Simon Anthony Blackburn works in advertising.
This is one of the safest facts about his adult career.
Tony Blackburn has said that his son works in advertising more than once.
In a 2008 interview, Tony was asked what job he might have chosen outside radio. He referred to Simon’s advertising work while answering.
Tony spoke about the same profession again years later.
So Simon’s career field is clear.
Simon Anthony Blackburn’s Advertising Career
Simon Anthony Blackburn built his working life away from entertainment.
Advertising became his field.
Industry material offers some possible pieces of his work history, though care is needed because the reports use the shorter name Simon Blackburn.
An Ofcom paper about commercial radio included a Simon Blackburn listed as Head of Radio at Media Planning Group.
A 2013 advertising report also named a Simon Blackburn as Client Director at Mindshare while discussing an Argos campaign involving ITV and Twitter.
Those roles fit Simon’s known profession.
But the industry reports don’t identify the man through Tony Blackburn or Tessa Wyatt.
So it would be risky to present every role as certain.
The safer statement is this:
Simon Anthony Blackburn has a documented career in advertising, while some specific job titles linked to the name Simon Blackburn need careful identity checking.
Did Simon Anthony Blackburn Work at Mindshare?
A 2013 advertising-industry report names a Simon Blackburn as Client Director at Mindshare.
The report concerns an Argos campaign.
The job fits Simon Anthony Blackburn’s known advertising background.
Yet the report doesn’t identify that executive as Tony Blackburn’s son.
So the Mindshare role remains a likely match rather than a fact that should be stated without qualification.
What Is Simon Anthony Blackburn’s Current Job?
A precise current employer should not be guessed.
Recent professional pages list people named Simon Blackburn in senior advertising and media jobs in London.
But a shared name creates a problem.
Those pages don’t always contain enough family information to prove which Simon Blackburn they describe.
For now, the reliable point is his profession.
He works in advertising.
Does Simon Anthony Blackburn Have a Sister?
Yes.
Simon has a paternal half-sister named Victoria Blackburn.
Victoria is Tony Blackburn’s daughter from his later marriage to Debbie Thomson.
She was born in 1997.
Simon was born in 1973, so there is a large age gap between the siblings.
Tony has spoken about both of his children in interviews.
Does Simon Anthony Blackburn Have Children?
Yes.
Simon Anthony Blackburn has two sons.
Their names are Harry and George.
Tony Blackburn spoke about his grandsons during a 2017 interview. At that time, he said Harry was five and George was one.
That lets us work out rough birth periods.
Harry was likely born around 2011 or 2012.
George was likely born around 2015 or 2016.
Exact birth dates should not be guessed from those ages.
Is Simon Anthony Blackburn Married?
Simon keeps his personal life quiet.
Some newer websites give a name for his wife.
But those claims don’t have enough reliable public sourcing behind them.
So the spouse’s name is best left out.
The public information that can safely be stated is that Simon has two sons, Harry and George.
Why Does Simon Anthony Blackburn Keep a Low Profile?
He never built a celebrity career.
His father worked in radio.
His mother worked in acting.
Simon chose advertising.
That naturally meant fewer interviews, fewer television appearances and much less tabloid coverage.
He also appears to keep family matters out of public view.
That is why searches for his name often lead back to interviews with Tony Blackburn.
Is Simon Anthony the Philosopher?
No.
This mix-up happens often.
The philosopher is Simon Walter Blackburn, a British academic born in 1944.
Tony Blackburn’s son is Simon Anthony , born in 1973.
They are different people.
Why Are There Different Birth Years Online?
The shared name causes this problem.
A separate person called Simon Anthony appears in British company records with a different birth year.
Those records belong to someone else.
Tony Blackburn’s son was born on 8 April 1973.
That is the date readers should use when checking his identity.
Is Simon Anthony Blackburn Still Alive?
There is no reliable public reporting found in the research showing that Tony Blackburn’s son has died.
Some websites have repeated death-related claims.
Those reports should not be treated as fact.
The identity problems around the name Simon Blackburn make careless reporting especially risky.
What Is Known About His Education?
Several websites publish school and university claims about Simon Blackburn.
The problem is sourcing.
Reliable school, university or first-person records linking those education details directly to Tony Blackburn’s son were not found during the research.
So those claims are not included here.
Guesswork doesn’t help readers.
What Is Known About Simon Anthony Blackburn’s Private Life?
Not much is publicly documented.
And that seems intentional.
Simon has spent his adult years outside celebrity culture. His work is known. His parents are known. His sons have been mentioned publicly by Tony Blackburn.
Much else stays private.
That includes many details websites often invent or copy, such as height, salary, property value and exact personal finances.
Those details don’t belong in a factual profile without good sourcing.
Simon Anthony Blackburn’s Family at a Glance
Father: Tony Blackburn
Mother: Tessa Wyatt
Paternal half-sister: Victoria Blackburn
Children: Harry and George
This is the family information that can be stated with confidence from reliable published material.
Final Thought
Simon Anthony Blackburn grew up with famous parents but chose a quieter working life.
He was born on 8 April 1973 to Tony Blackburn and Tessa Wyatt. His parents separated while he was young, though Tony continued seeing him regularly.
As an adult, Simon went into advertising.
He later became a father himself.
His sons are Harry and George.
Simon Anthony Blackburn still attracts attention because of his family name, yet much of his own life has stayed outside the press. That makes careful sourcing especially important.
Stick to what is known.
Skip the guesses.
FAQ
Who is Simon Anthony Blackburn?
He is the son of British radio presenter Tony Blackburn and actress Tessa Wyatt. He works in advertising.
Who is Tony Blackburn’s son?
Tony Blackburn’s son is Simon Anthony Blackburn. He was born on 8 April 1973.
How old is Simon Anthony Blackburn?
He is 53 years old in 2026.
Who are Simon Anthony Blackburn’s parents?
His parents are Tony Blackburn and Tessa Wyatt.
What does Simon Anthony Blackburn do for work?
He works in advertising. Tony Blackburn has spoken publicly about his son’s profession.
Does Simon Anthony Blackburn have children?
Yes. He has two sons named Harry and George.
Who is Simon Anthony Blackburn’s sister?
His paternal half-sister is Victoria Blackburn, Tony Blackburn’s daughter from his later marriage.
Is Simon Anthony Blackburn the philosopher Simon Blackburn?
No. Philosopher Simon Walter Blackburn is a different person. Tony Blackburn’s son is Simon Anthony Blackburn, born in 1973.
