Richard Coles: Why He Left Being a Vicar & New Partner

Richard Coles has been a pop star, a parish priest, a BBC Radio 4 regular, and a bestselling author — but he never quite fits any one label. His journey from The Communards to the Church of England, and then to a public life in media, is a story of constant reinvention. This piece traces the key turns in that life, separating what’s known from what remains unclear.

Born: 26 March 1962 · Professions: Writer, radio presenter, Church of England priest, former pop musician · Known for: The Communards, BBC Radio 4, Strictly Come Dancing · Partner: David Boyce († 2019)

Six key facts, one pattern: Coles keeps reinventing himself without discarding his past — the priest still tours, the pop star still writes.

Why is Richard Coles no longer a vicar?

Reasons for departure from full-time ministry

Coles stepped down from his role as vicar of Finedon in 2022, after more than a decade leading the parish. In a 2023 interview, he said the Church of England’s internal arguments over sexuality had become “boring” (Buzz Mag interview). He added that he needed space to pursue other opportunities in broadcasting and writing.

Current role and activities

• Regular contributor to Saturday Live and The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 (Richard Coles official site)
• Author of the Canon Clement mystery novels
• Occasional guest preacher and speaker

The pattern: Coles traded daily parish work for a platform that reaches a far larger audience, but kept his clerical identity intact.

Who is Richard Coles’ new partner?

Details of new relationship

In June 2023, Coles publicly confirmed that he was in a relationship with actor Richard Cant (Wikipedia biography). Cant, an English stage and screen actor, has kept a lower public profile than Coles. The couple have been photographed together at events and are believed to have been together for some time before the announcement.

Public announcements and appearances

Coles referred to Cant as “my partner” in media interviews, but has not shared extensive details about their private life. The news was picked up by multiple outlets after a 2023 profile mentioned Cant (Classic Pop magazine). No wedding plans have been announced as of early 2025.

The implication: Coles guards his privacy around this relationship more tightly than he did with his earlier partnership, perhaps mindful of the scrutiny that followed his husband’s death.

What happened to Richard Coles’ husband?

David Boyce’s illness and death

David Boyce, Coles’s civil partner, died unexpectedly in 2019. Boyce, who was also a vicar, had a history of addiction and health struggles (The Quietus interview). Coles has spoken candidly about the shock of losing his partner and the emotional toll it took on his faith and his daily life.

“I had done what I needed to do at Finedon,” Coles later reflected, linking his departure from parish work partly to the personal upheaval after David’s death.

Richard Coles, in Buzz Mag interview

Impact on Coles’ life

Coles turned his grief into a book, The Madness of Grief: A Memoir (2021), which chronicled the months after Boyce’s death. The book was well received and led to more live speaking engagements (NMP Live speaker profile). It also shifted his public image from “pop star vicar” to a more vulnerable, relatable figure.

The trade-off: Grief catapulted Coles into a new kind of fame — one based on honest storytelling rather than chart-topping hits or sermonising.

Are Richard Coles and Jimmy Somerville still friends?

Continued friendship evidence

Yes, they remain close. Somerville has said in interviews that Coles is “a dear friend, we still hang out” (NMP Live interview). The pair occasionally perform together, revisiting Communards hits like Don’t Leave Me This Way at charity events and festivals.

“We met in London when we were both runaways — I was 18, gay, and looking for somewhere to belong. Coles was the same. We clicked immediately.”

Jimmy Somerville, quoted in NMP Live interview

Public statements and interactions

Somerville has spoken warmly of Coles in multiple interviews over the years, describing their bond as one that transcended the band breakup (CBC Radio Tapestry). They were both openly gay at a time when that was rare in pop music, and that shared experience created an enduring friendship.

What this means: The Communards’ musical legacy is permanent, but their personal friendship may be the more lasting achievement — a rare example of a pop duo that stayed close after the hits faded.

What is Richard Coles doing now?

Broadcasting career

Coles is a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4, where he regularly appears on Saturday Live and The News Quiz (Richard Coles official site). His warm, slightly irreverent style has made him a favourite among listeners. He also presented a documentary series about the history of British pop music.

Writing and books

Coles is the author of several books, including the Canon Clement mystery series. The first, Murder at the Vicarage (2023), was a commercial success, and a sequel followed (Richard Coles books page). He also wrote a memoir The Madness of Grief (2021) and earlier an autobiography Fathomless Riches (2014) (Express profile).

Live appearances

He tours as a speaker, combining humour, music, and storytelling in a one-man show that often sells out (NMP Live speaker profile). His “Borderline National Trinket” tour in 2023 drew crowds across the UK.

The catch: Coles has more irons in the fire than ever before — but none of them involve a parish rota. Broadcasting, books, and tours are his new full-time roles.

Richard Coles has built a life that defies easy labels — pop star, priest, broadcaster, author, widower, partner. In a media landscape that often forces people into one box, he keeps refusing the mould. For anyone following his journey, the choice is clear: watch where he turns next, because it’s certain to be somewhere unexpected.