Early and Personal Life
Simonsen was born in Stavanger to businesspersons Viktor Holck Simonsen (1913–1990) and Martha Espevoll (1917–1991). He was born and raised in the city district Våland, and later lived a few years in Eiganes. He studied social science at Rogaland University College and has a minor in history. He has been editor for the publications Strandbuen, Video- og TV-guiden and the official Progress Party publication Fremskritt. He is not married.
While he was christened in the Church of Norway, and as an adult remained a strong supporter of the church, he left it during the term of Gunnar Stålsett as bishop of Oslo. This was as Stålsett had been the chairman of the Centre Party in the 1970s, and got his bid for bishop supported by Centre Party MPs in 1998, with Simonsen thinking the choice to have been too politicized. When Stålsett stepped down in 2005, and was succeeded by Ole Christian Kvarme, Simonsen however rejoined the church.
In 2005 Simonsen was a competitor on the television show Robinson VIP, a Scandinavian adaptation and celebrity edition of Survivor, achieving the position as runner-up. His favourite record is Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones, and his favourite writer is Leon Uris.
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