A previous star of Strictly Come Dancing has revealed he's found love again after the sad death of his husband three years ago.
Reverend Richard Coles, who stepped out on the Strictly dance floor in 2017, was left heartbroken after the tragic death of his husband Reverend David Coles in 2019. Yet the radio presenter and man of God has now found love and is happy in a new relationship.
The writer and radio presenter featured on the 2017 series of Strictly and was partnered with professional dancer Dianne Buswell, but was unfortunately the second celebrity to be sent home.
Now Richard, who features on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live, has found love with the help of online dating.
Using Elite Singles, Richard is now happily coupled up with Dickie Cant who is the son of late actor and Play Away presenter Brian Cant.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Richard recalls that Dickie made the first move and the rest is history.
The former Reverend and Dickie enjoyed their first date at a Royal Horticultural Society, 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 celibate relationship and wed in a civil partnership in 2010.
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.
"It is like someone is drowning and you throw them a lifebelt but they are just not taking the lifebelt.
"And I did try everything I could think of to help him stop drinking, and in fairness to him he did try too, but it was too much for him."
In an emotional interview with The Guardian in 2021, Richard revealed the impact of grief and missing David. He said: "I realised, suddenly, that in trying to fill my life with as much incident and interest as I could I had neglected important things of home and hearth.
"I wish I’d spent more time with David. I wish I’d prioritised doing nothing with David more. Not seeing that as a holiday from things, but as the centre of things."
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