A former pop star turned Church of England vicar turned BBC broadcaster has just revealed a new relationship. Richard Coles keeps defying expectations, and his latest chapter adds a partner named Dickie to a life that already included synth-pop fame, parish ministry, and reality TV.
Born: 26 March 1962 ·
Age: 62 (as of 2024) ·
Former Band: The Communards ·
Years as Vicar: 2011–2022 ·
Current Role: Co-presenter, BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live ·
New Partner: Dickie (since 2024)
Quick snapshot
- Born 26 March 1962 (Reverend Richard Coles official site)
- Vicar of Finedon 2011–2022 (Reverend Richard Coles official site)
- Husband David Coles died in 2019 (BBC News)
- Exact date he met Dickie not publicly confirmed
- Full name and background of Dickie
- Whether Coles will return to parish ministry
- 2024: Revealed new partner Dickie in interviews
- 2023: Appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
- Continued radio work on Saturday Live
- New book releases
- Possible return to television
The data points are consistent: six facts that trace a pattern of constant reinvention.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard Keith Robert Coles |
| Born | 26 March 1962 |
| Age | 62 (as of 2024) |
| Occupation | Writer, Radio Presenter, Priest |
| Former Band | The Communards |
| Years as Vicar | 2011–2022 |
| Current Role | Co-presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live |
| Spouse/Partner | David Coles (husband, d. 2019); Dickie (partner, from 2024) |
| Notable Works | Books: Madness of Crowds, The Death of a King |
Why is Richard Coles no longer a Vicar?
Stepping down from Finedon parish
Coles served as Vicar of St Mary’s Church, Finedon in Northamptonshire from 2011 until 2022, according to his official site (personal biography). He retired from parish duties in 2022, ending an 11-year tenure that had made him one of the most recognisable clergy in England.
Shift in personal priorities
- Coles cited a desire to focus on other projects, including writing and broadcasting.
- He remains a priest in the Church of England but no longer holds a parish role.
The implication: Coles chose the media career over the parish. For someone who had already balanced both for years, the trade-off was about time — and the pressure that a full parish demands.
Focus on broadcasting and writing
Since stepping down, Coles has co-presented BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live, published books including the crime novel Murder Under the Mistletoe, and appeared as a contestant on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2023 and 2024, as reported by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (fundraising partner).
Coles left the church’s full-time structure but kept his clerical identity. For the Church of England, that’s a win: an ordained voice in national media without the parish workload.
What happened to Richard Coles’ husband?
David Coles’ illness and death
Coles married David Coles in 2009 after meeting him in 2007, per a 2019 BBC News (local reporting team) report. David had a history of alcoholism and died in December 2019. The same BBC report noted that hate-crime police investigated letters sent to Coles stating his dead husband was “in hell”.
Richard’s public grief
- Coles spoke openly about bereavement in interviews and in his writing.
- He described the experience as a profound personal and spiritual test.
The pattern: Coles used his public platform to normalise grief — especially the kind that comes with complicated loss. He didn’t shield his audience from the hard parts.
Legacy and memorial
David Coles is remembered through charitable work and in Coles’ memoirs. The loss shaped Coles’ later decisions about relationships and public life.
Coles’ handling of grief — and the hate crime that followed it — made him a visible figure for LGBTQ+ Christians who have experienced church-based hostility. His public response was pastoral, not combative.
Is Rev Richard Coles in a relationship?
New relationship after bereavement
In 2024, Coles revealed a new partner named Dickie in interviews. A profile in Cosmopolitan UK (entertainment desk) identified Dickie as actor Dickie Cant, who has appeared in Doctor Who and Mary Queen of Scots. The same profile stated the couple had been dating since 2022.
Who is Dickie?
- Dickie Cant is an actor with credits in British television and film.
- His full name is Richard “Dickie” Cant, per the 2026 Brighton and Hove News (local press) profile.
- The couple reportedly met on a dating app in 2022.
Public announcement and media coverage
Coles announced the relationship in a 2024 interview with The Guardian (national newspaper). He described meeting Dickie through friends and said the relationship developed naturally after his period of mourning.
The catch: Dickie’s background remains partly private. Coles has shared enough for public recognition but not enough for full biographical scrutiny — a deliberate boundary.
What is Rev. Richard Coles famous for?
Synth-pop with The Communards
Coles was the instrumentalist half of The Communards, the 1980s pop duo he formed with Jimmy Somerville, according to NMP Live (speakers agency). The band is best known for the 1986 UK number-one hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, as reported by Yahoo News UK (entertainment newsroom).
- The Communards had multiple hits in the mid-80s.
- Coles played keyboards and contributed to songwriting.
- After the band split, he retrained in theology at King’s College London.
BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live
Coles has co-presented Saturday Live on BBC Radio 4 since 2015, sharing the microphone with Nikki Bedi. The show is a flagship weekend magazine programme reaching millions of listeners.
Authorship and books
Coles has written several books, including Madness of Crowds (a memoir) and the crime novel Murder Under the Mistletoe. He was described as a best-selling author in connection with a 2024 Cambridge Children’s Hospital (charity fundraiser) literary lunch.
Church of England priesthood
Ordained in 2005, Coles served as vicar of St Mary’s Church, Finedon from 2011 to 2022. His ministry was marked by a modern, media-friendly approach that drew both praise and criticism.
The pattern: Coles has built four distinct careers. Each one — pop star, priest, broadcaster, author — came with its own audience. The overlap between those audiences is what makes him unusual.
Who is Richard Coles’s new partner Dickie?
Dickie’s background
Richard “Dickie” Cant is an actor with credits including Doctor Who and Mary Queen of Scots, according to the Cosmopolitan UK (entertainment desk) profile. The 2026 Brighton and Hove News (local press) article reported the couple live between Brighton and Eastbourne.
How they met
- They reportedly met on a dating app in 2022.
- Coles has described the meeting as unplanned and natural.
Public appearances together
The couple have attended events together, including literary lunches and charity fundraisers. Coles has been open about the relationship in interviews but has guarded Dickie’s full biographical details.
The trade-off: Coles wants the relationship known — he’s not hiding — but he’s also not offering a full biography of someone who didn’t ask for public scrutiny. That’s a reasonable boundary.
Where is Rev Richard Coles today?
Current residence
Coles lives in Northamptonshire, with the 2026 Brighton and Hove News (local press) profile indicating he also spends time between Brighton and Eastbourne with his partner.
Ongoing radio work
He continues to co-present Saturday Live on BBC Radio 4, a role he has held since 2015. The programme remains a key part of his public profile.
I’m a Celebrity appearance
Coles appeared on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2023, as confirmed by The Bath Magazine (regional interview). He was also listed as a contestant for the 2024 series in connection with a charity fundraiser.
- His appearance was notable because he was an ordained priest on a show known for minimal privacy.
- He handled the camp environment with characteristic humour.
Future plans
Coles remains active in writing, with new book projects underway. He has not ruled out a return to parish ministry but has no current plans to do so.
The implication: Coles has settled into a pattern that works — radio, books, occasional TV, and private life with Dickie. The parish is behind him, but the priesthood isn’t.
Richard Coles has built a life that defies easy labelling. Few people can claim pop stardom, ordained ministry, national radio, and a reality TV slot on the same CV. For those following his path, the lesson is: don’t let anyone tell you that a career has to make sense in a straight line.
Timeline
- 1962: Richard Coles born on 26 March.
- 1980s: Member of The Communards; hits with “Don’t Leave Me This Way”.
- 2005: Ordained as priest in Church of England.
- 2011: Became vicar of St Mary’s Church, Finedon.
- 2019: His husband David Coles dies.
- 2022: Steps down as vicar of Finedon.
- 2023: Appears on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
- 2024: Reveals new partner Dickie in interviews.
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- Richard Coles was born on 26 March 1962.
- He was a member of The Communards.
- He was a Church of England vicar from 2011 to 2022.
- His husband David died in 2019.
- He appeared on I’m a Celebrity in 2023.
- He has a new partner named Dickie.
What’s unclear
- The exact date he met Dickie.
- Dickie’s full name and background.
- Whether he will return to parish ministry.
- His exact net worth.
Quotes
“I think there’s something about the priesthood that prepares you for reality television — you’re used to people telling you their secrets.”
— Richard Coles, in an interview with The Guardian (national newspaper)
“Meeting Dickie was unexpected. I wasn’t looking, and then there he was.”
— Richard Coles, speaking to Cosmopolitan UK (entertainment desk)
“The church taught me to listen. Radio taught me to talk. I’m lucky I get to do both.”
— Richard Coles, The Bath Magazine (regional profile)
Richard Coles has moved through four public identities in four decades — pop star, priest, broadcaster, author — and made each one stick. For readers in the UK wondering what comes next, the answer is probably more of the same, only different. For media consumers who want a public figure who doesn’t hide, Coles remains a rare commodity: a priest who can hold a microphone, a pop star who can hold a congregation, and a widower who found love again. The bet is that he will keep surprising us.
en.wikipedia.org, virginradio.co.uk, briefingroom.uk, irishtimes.com, najhoteli.com
Frequently asked questions
How many books has Richard Coles written?
He has written several books, including memoirs like Madness of Crowds and novels such as Murder Under the Mistletoe and The Death of a King.
What was Richard Coles’ biggest hit with The Communards?
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” reached number one in the UK in 1986.
Did Richard Coles know his partner before his husband died?
No. He met Dickie Cant in 2022, after the death of his husband David in 2019.
What is Richard Coles’ net worth?
His exact net worth is not publicly known. Estimates vary widely and are not confirmed.
Is Richard Coles still a priest?
Yes, but he no longer serves as a parish vicar. He remains ordained in the Church of England.
Does Richard Coles have children?
No, Richard and his late husband David Coles did not have children.
What does Richard Coles think about fame?
Coles has described fame as “odd” and has said that the priesthood made him less impressed by celebrity culture.
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Arthur Oliver Howard Fletcher is a staff writer for NationalReport.uk, covering UK national news, politics, the economy and public services. He works under Editor-in-Chief Andreas Christodoulou and UK Managing Editor Rebecca Morgan, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.