Reverend Richard Coles

The Reverend Richard Coles is a broadcaster, writer and CoE priest - best known for having been one half of the 80s band, The Communards. They enjoyed three UK Top 10 hits, including 1986’s biggest-selling single, Don't Leave Me This Way.

The multi-talented Richard turned his hand to acting, penned music for film and TV, served up advice as ‘agony uncle’ on BBC London and won a Sony Gold as presenter of The Mix on Radio 5 Live.

Richard then trained for a priesthood to become what could only be described as a ‘very modern’ vicar. He was Curate at St Boltoph’s in Lincolnshire before moving to St Paul's Knightsbridge and becoming Chaplain to the Royal Academy of Music. His career in the church inspired the hit BBC2 comedy Rev.

Richard continues to work in broadcasting, as an opera reviewer and frequent contributor to Newsnight Review/The Review Show and has featured on Have I Got News For You, Masterchef, QI, This Week, Songs of Praise and also won Celebrity Mastermind.