Richard Coles

Cleric, Broadcaster, Author & Former Communard
Hilarious After Dinner Speaker
Conference Speaker & Event Host

Richard Coles is one of the few celebrities to have successfully bridged the gap between pop music and the pulpit, but whatever the medium, the message he broadcasts is essentially witty, thought-provoking and always interesting.

A multi-instrumentalist who partnered Jimmy Somerville in the 1980s band The Communards - achieving three Top Ten hits, including the Number 1 Don't Leave Me This Way - Richard subsequently left the pop world to train for a priesthood in the Church of England, becoming what can only be described as a thoroughly 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.

Richard frequently appears on radio and television, as well as in newspapers. He is probably best known as the regular host of BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live programme, and has also appeared on TV panel shows such as QI and Have I Got News For You, where his quick and inventive verbal humour is always to the fore. When the motivation is more spiritual, Richard has featured on BBC TV's Songs of Praise specials and as the guest on Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2.

Richard is an excellent choice for After-dinner Speaking and is always appreciated by audiences for his intelligence, humour and warmth. To book him for your Event, contact Prime Performers on 020 3500 3331 or via our online booking enquiry form.

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Testimonials

Reverend Coles was a pleasure to work with, he was an event managers dream. He rehearsed as requested. Delivered what we asked for and more. It was great to have a host who didn't just read from the script. He added in a number of funny one liners which related to the audience.

After dinner speaker, the Reverend Richard Coles. He was absolutely brilliant! We had a really good evening, he was really well received by the audience but ahead of that, he mixed with us all before dinner and weaved in things he had clearly picked up from conversation into his speech which was just. He absolutely made the evening.

Richard was friendly, told interesting and amusing anecdotes from the Communards and his life as a vicar, and held the attention of the audience. The audience reaction was excellent, with many expressing satisfaction at Richard's performance, with the content and tone being just right for the mixed range of people in the audience.