Learn about Reverend Richard Coles' personal life, including his relationship with a famous actor and his net worth, as he becomes a finalist on I'm A Celebrity.

Reverend Richard Coles, known for his time on the popular reality series I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, has captured the hearts of many new fans since joining the show. His popularity has soared, and he has even made it to the final alongside fellow celebrities Danny Jones and Coleen Rooney, after braving the infamous Celebrity Cyclone.

Viewers have been charmed by the Church of England priest's cunning deception of his fellow campmates, his surprising friendship with Maura Higgins, and his candid discussions about his love life with GK Barry. Richard, who first rose to fame in the 1980s as one half of the synth-pop duo The Communards, has also hosted BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live program and made appearances on popular shows like QI, Would I Lie to You?, and Have I Got News for You. He even competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, although he admits he was not the most talented dancer.

But beyond his entertainment career, Richard has also been open about his personal life, including his sexuality and the tragic loss of his husband. He first came out as gay to his mother at the age of 16, playing her Tom Robinson's song "Glad to Be Gay" four times before she finally asked him if he was trying to tell her something. In the following years, he struggled with depression and even attempted to take his own life.

Richard found fame once again when he partnered with Jimmy Somerville in The Communards. On a recent episode of I'm A Celebrity, he was asked by GK if being gay was difficult for him as a priest. Richard replied, "No, not at all. I've never given it a moment's thought about whether God approves or not. As for others, well, I'm happy to have that argument." He also pointed out that he was not the first gay person in the church, citing evidence from early church documents and the Middle Ages.

In 2005, Richard met David Oldham, who was also an Anglican priest, when David visited him for advice about joining the clergy. They entered into a civil partnership in 2010, but Richard had to promise to remain celibate to keep his job as a vicar. However, he later revealed that this was not the case and that they were in a romantic relationship. In 2019, David passed away at the age of 42, after battling alcoholism for many years. In 2021, Richard opened up about his husband's struggles with alcoholism in his book The Madness of Grief: A Memoir of Love and Loss.

Richard and David's love story began when David sought guidance from Richard about joining the clergy. However, as David's alcoholism worsened, it became increasingly difficult for Richard to watch him self-destruct. In December 2019, Richard found David in their guest room holding onto a bucket of vomit and blood. After his condition worsened, the difficult decision was made to turn off his oxygen. In 2022, Richard announced his retirement as a parish priest in Northamptonshire and moved to Sussex. He explained that while he did not want to leave the Church of England, he also did not want to compromise his beliefs on truth, justice, and human dignity.

Today, Richard continues to be an open and honest advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and speaks candidly about his experiences. He may have faced heartbreaking challenges in his life, but his strength and resilience have inspired many.
The world of reality television has a new star in the form of Reverend Richard Coles, who has captured the hearts of viewers on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! After a grueling journey, he has made it to the much-anticipated final, alongside fellow celebrities Danny Jones and Coleen Rooney, thanks to his impressive performance in the infamous Celebrity Cyclone challenge.

The Church of England priest has impressed viewers with his cunning tactics to deceive his fellow campmates, his unexpected friendship with Maura Higgins, and his candid discussions about his sexuality with fellow contestant GK Barry. But this isn't Richard's first taste of fame - he first rose to stardom in the 80s as part of the popular synth-pop duo The Communards, achieving three top ten hits in the UK.

In recent years, Richard has also made appearances on popular shows such as QI, Would I Lie to You?, and Have I Got News for You. He even took on the challenge of competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, although he admits that his dancing skills were less than impressive. Despite this, he quickly won over the hearts of viewers with his charming personality.

But Richard's journey to fame hasn't been without its challenges. He has been open about his personal life, including growing up as a gay man and the tragic death of his husband. Richard first came out to his mother at the age of 16, playing her Tom Robinson's song "Glad to Be Gay" before finally mustering the courage to tell her the truth. However, in the following years, he faced a mental crisis that led to a diagnosis of clinical depression and even a suicide attempt.

Richard found love with his late husband, David Oldham, who was also an Anglican priest. The couple entered into a civil partnership in 2010, but Richard had to promise to remain celibate in order to keep his job as a vicar. However, he later revealed that this promise was not kept, and their relationship was not as celibate as they had claimed. In 2019, David sadly passed away at the age of 42, after struggling with alcoholism.

In his book, The Madness of Grief: A Memoir of Love and Loss, Richard candidly shares the struggles he and David faced as a couple, with David's battle with alcoholism taking a toll on their relationship. Despite Richard's efforts to help him, David's condition continued to worsen, and he ultimately lost his vicar license and suffered from liver damage. In December 2019, Richard found him in their guest room, holding onto a bucket of vomit and blood. He sadly passed away soon after.

In 2022, Richard announced his retirement as a parish priest after 11 years and moved to Sussex, citing the Church of England's failure to uphold its calling for truth, justice, and human dignity as one of the reasons for his decision. He continues to speak openly about his experiences and hopes to use his platform to spread awareness and advocate for those struggling with addiction.

As for his love life, Richard is currently single, but his late husband will always hold a special place in his heart. He may have faced heartbreaking challenges in his life, but Richard Coles remains a beloved figure, known for his warmth, humor, and unwavering honesty.

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