TV favourite the Reverend Richard Coles has revealed he has found love again through online dating following the death of his husband David three years ago.
Former pop star Richard, who has starred in Strictly Come Dancing, presented a Radio 4 show and been - in his old day job as a parish vicar - the inspiration for the lead character in sitcom Rev, has spoken of his anger at the "humiliation" of having to pretend his marriage was celibate, the Mirror reports.
Richard revealed all in an interview with the Sunday Times. He has also explained how he used dating app Elite Singles to couple up with Dickie Cant, son of late actor and Play Away presenter Brian Cant.
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Richard said Dickie made the first move and the rest is history. The former Reverend and Dickie enjoyed their first date at a Royal Horticultural Society location, with the pair soon realising there was a spark.
Richard revealed that Dickie doesn't care about fame, and that he in turn doesn't mind that Dickie is atheist.
In the interview he also addressed the grief and loss after his husband David died following his battle with alcoholism. Richard said: "I'm angry when people speak in a way that means they think you should be over it. It's not a cold.
He also admitted that losing him "messed his f***ing life up."
David passed away in 2019, with Richard confirming the death on Twitter. It wasn't until 2021 that Richard revealed alcoholism had been the cause of David's death. The pair had been in a supposedly-celibate relationship - but Richard said "which it wasn't" - and had wed in a civil partnership in 2010.
Regarding the alcoholism, in an extract from his book The Madness Of Grief: A Memoir Of Love And Loss, Richard, said: "It was really, really tough to see somebody you love destroy himself."
Speaking to the Sunday Times about his oath, he added: "It’s true, bang to rights, I was dishonest. I don’t like breaking an oath, but if it is one that is unholy then I don’t feel the moral obligation to observe it.”
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