Latest news with #ChangingRooms
Wales Online
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Changing Rooms' Anna Ryder Richardson very different new life at Welsh zoo
Changing Rooms' Anna Ryder Richardson very different new life at Welsh zoo Changing Rooms icon Anna Ryder Richardson has been on a rollercoaster since the show came to an end in 2004, with the interior design expert now running a zoo Anna Ryder Richardson now owns a zoo in Pembrokeshire (Image: Anna Ryder Richardson ) Since her stint as one of the stars of the iconic 90s show that revolutionised the nation's living rooms, Anna Ryder Richardson has embarked on a rather unusual journey post-Changing Rooms, which ended in 2004. The interior design legend, Ryder Richardson, graced our screens alongside Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen in the BBC reality series that spanned 10 seasons. Her passion for design was ignited while working in a children's interior shop, leading her to establish her own interior design company. She made her TV debut with her own design segment on GMTV in 1996. During this period, she formed a friendship with celebrity chef Ainsley Harriot, who introduced her to some producers, paving the way for her to become one of the key designers on Changing Rooms. After the show wrapped up in 2004, Anna participated in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2007, becoming the sixth contestant to exit the jungle, reports the Mirror. Interestingly, the jungle wasn't the only place where Anna encountered wildlife. She surprisingly became the founder of Manor Wildlife Park, a zoo nestled in rural Pembrokeshire. Article continues below Anna with the Changing Rooms gang (Image: PA ) Alongside her ex-husband, the designer purchased and revamped the zoo in 2008. Her remarkable mission to restore the site into a Welsh tourist attraction was documented in the TV series Chaos at The Zoo. Under their management, the zoo has seen significant improvements, including the construction of a £300,000 rhino house and the introduction of new species such as lions, zebras, and parrots. Owning the zoo was never an easy journey for the couple, and it eventually took a toll on their marriage. They divorced in 2017, with a statement to Mail Online revealing that "stresses and strains and expense of running our wildlife park have destroyed our marriage". The conflict spilled into the public eye shortly after their separation as they found themselves embroiled in a bitter legal dispute over ownership, which she referred to as being in a "horrid limbo". While speaking on the 'How To Be 60' podcast, the 61 year old shared with Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams: "I am enjoying a bit of celibacy, to be honest... but we've dived straight in there, haven't we? I'm officially still married for another few weeks." Article continues below She reflected on the ordeal, saying, "It's been probably the worst time, I think. It's actually been going on for such a long time. Have I wasted all that time? Being in this horrid limbo and control and not really living my life, even though I look like them." As of October 2024, it appears the dispute has been settled, with Ryder Richardson resuming her role at the zoo. In a recent statement, the ex-television personality expressed her enthusiasm: "I am very excited, it has been a long time coming, but I am finally back with my beloved animals, incredible team, and excited to greet our visitors into the park. I have huge plans for the future of Manor Wildlife Park."
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Changing Rooms star's life from bitter divorce to managing a zoo after show ended
Designer Anna Ryder Richardson is best known for co-hosting the BBC reality show Changing Rooms alongside Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, but since the show came to an end she's been very busy Since her stint as the host of a popular 90s show that revolutionised British living rooms, Anna Ryder Richardson has embarked on an extraordinary journey since Changing Rooms ended in 2004. The interior design legend, Ryder Richardson, brightened up our screens alongside Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen in the BBC reality series that spanned 10 seasons. Her love for design was sparked while working at a children's interior shop, leading her to establish her own interior design company. She got her first major TV break with her own design segment on GMTV in 1996. During this period, she formed a friendship with celebrity chef Ainsley Harriot, who introduced her to some producers before she became one of the key designers on Changing Rooms. After the show wrapped up in 2004, Anna participated in I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2007 and was the sixth contestant to exit the jungle, reports the Mirror. But the jungle wasn't the only place where Anna encountered wildlife. In a surprising turn of events, she became the founder of Manor Wildlife Park, a zoo located in rural Pembrokeshire. Alongside her ex-husband, the designer purchased and revamped the zoo in 2008. Her remarkable mission to restore the site into a Welsh tourist attraction was documented in the TV series Chaos at The Zoo. Under their management, the zoo has seen significant improvements, including the construction of a £300,000 rhino house and the introduction of new species such as lions, zebras, and parrots. The couple's ownership of the zoo was never without its challenges, and it eventually took a toll on their relationship, leading to their divorce in 2017. In an interview with the Mail Online, they attributed the breakdown of their marriage to the "stresses and strains and expense of running our wildlife park have destroyed our marriage". Following their split, the pair became embroiled in a bitter public dispute over ownership, which Richardson described as a "horrid limbo". Speaking on the 'How To Be 60' podcast with Kaye Adams, the 61 year old shared: "I am enjoying a bit of celibacy, to be honest... but we've dived straight in there, haven't we? I'm officially still married for another few weeks. "It's been probably the worst time, I think. It's actually been going on for such a long time. Have I wasted all that time? Being in this horrid limbo and control and not really living my life, even though I look like them." However, in October 2024, the dispute appears to have been resolved, with Ryder Richardson returning to her role as manager of the zoo. In a statement, the former TV star expressed her excitement: "I am very excited, it has been a long time coming, but I am finally back with my beloved animals, incredible team, and excited to greet our visitors into the park. I have huge plans for the future of Manor Wildlife Park."
The Irish Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
TV host of classic 90s show has a very different career that's worlds away from her telly fame
CHANGING Rooms legend Anna Ryder Richardson swapped wallpaper samples for wild animals after leaving TV - and now runs her very own zoo. The telly favourite, once known for bold interior makeovers that divided the nation, has traded MDF and mood boards for meerkats and monkeys at her Welsh wildlife park. 6 Anna shot to fame in Changing Rooms where amateur designers would use their imagination to create a room where anything is possible Credit: BBC 6 But now she manages a zoo Credit: Instagram She was the queen of the quick makeover - but these days Anna shot to fame alongside Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen transforming Britain's blandest lounges, until the hit BBC show ended in 2004. She first found her flair for interiors while working in a kids' furniture shop, before landing a design slot on It was there she rubbed shoulders with celeb chef more on 90s tv After 10 series of telly makeovers and power tool drama, Anna swapped wallpaper for welly boots and headed Down Under for I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2007, where she became the sixth star voted out of the jungle. But the jungle wasn't the wildest thing Anna would take on - as just a year later, the star made headlines by snapping up her very own zoo. Swapping scatter cushions for safari-style chaos, Anna bought the crumbling Manor House Wildlife Park in rural Pembrokeshire in 2008 with her ex-husband - and set out to turn it into a top tourist hotspot. Her rollercoaster mission was even turned into telly gold in Chaos at the Zoo, which followed the highs and lows of juggling animals, renovations and rogue rhinos. Most read in Reality Since taking over, Anna has poured her heart (and serious cash) into the place - building a £300k rhino house and welcoming in new residents including lions, zebras and parrots. Owning a zoo might sound like a dream - but for Anna, it turned into a nightmare behind the scenes. Clueless star Twink Caplan resurfaces with her quirky charm for the first time in 5 years as 90s movie gets reboot Running Manor Wildlife Park put huge pressure on her marriage, and by 2017, the strain proved too much. The star and her husband called it quits, later telling the Things soon turned messy, with the split spiralling into a bitter legal battle over who would keep the zoo. Anna described the ordeal as a 'horrid limbo' as the once united animal lovers fought tooth and claw over the future of their wild empire. Hottest home trends for 2025 Renovations expert Andy Simms, from COLOUR DRENCHING Colour drenching involves using your colour across walls and ceilings to maximise the impact and create the illusion of a bigger space - doors, radiators, and even furniture won't escape the paint job if you want the full effect. Brown, terracotta, beige - once the preserve of the 70s, earthy colours have been slowly gaining popularity. Similarly, bold greens and blues are also making a return, with the intention of colour drenching rooms. STATEMENT WALLPAPER Wallpaper divides designers, with some loving it and others preferring painted walls. 2025 will see a resurgence of wallpaper, and the bolder the better. For small spaces, such as downstairs loos or studies, choose a bold print and ignore any concerns about making the space look smaller. For larger spaces, consider a stunning mural theme. BROKEN LIVING PLAN Open plan living has been popular for over a decade now, but while it hasn't quite had its day, many are returning to smaller, functional spaces - with a twist. 'Broken plan' is when a bigger space is cut into various parts using screens, archways, crittal-style windows and doors or textured glass. Speaking on the Chatting to Loose Women star Kaye Adams, the 61-year-old said: 'I am enjoying a bit of Reflecting on the turmoil of the past few years, she added: 'It's been probably the worst time, I think. It's actually been going on for such a long time. Have I wasted all that time? Being in this horrid limbo and control and not really living my life, even though I look like them.' But after a long and painful battle, October 2024 finally brought closure - and a new beginning - with Anna officially returning to the helm at Manor Wildlife Park, ready to roar once more. In a statement the former TV star said: 'I am very excited, it has been a long time coming, but I am finally back with my beloved animals, incredible team, and excited to greet our visitors into the park. I have huge plans for the future of Manor Wildlife Park.' 6 Anna made a wild change after her TV fame Credit: BBC 6 She manages the zoo with rhinos, lions, zebras and parrots Credit: Instagram 6 The star split from her husband in 2018 after 13 years of marriage Credit: D Legakis Photography/Athena 6 The split spiralled into a bitter legal battle over who would keep the zoo Credit: D Legakis Photography / Athena Picture Agency
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
TV host of classic 90s show has a very different career that's worlds away from her telly fame
But the stress of her new venture took a toll on her marriage - ending in a messy legal battle Wild Change TV host of classic 90s show has a very different career that's worlds away from her telly fame CHANGING Rooms legend Anna Ryder Richardson swapped wallpaper samples for wild animals after leaving TV - and now runs her very own zoo. The telly favourite, once known for bold interior makeovers that divided the nation, has traded MDF and mood boards for meerkats and monkeys at her Welsh wildlife park. 6 Anna shot to fame in Changing Rooms where amateur designers would use their imagination to create a room where anything is possible Credit: BBC 6 But now she manages a zoo Credit: Instagram She was the queen of the quick makeover - but these days Changing Rooms legend Anna Ryder Richardson is more at home with lemurs than living rooms. Anna shot to fame alongside Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen transforming Britain's blandest lounges, until the hit BBC show ended in 2004. She first found her flair for interiors while working in a kids' furniture shop, before landing a design slot on GMTV in 1996. It was there she rubbed shoulders with celeb chef Ainsley Harriott - who helped her bag her big break on Changing Rooms. After 10 series of telly makeovers and power tool drama, Anna swapped wallpaper for welly boots and headed Down Under for I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2007, where she became the sixth star voted out of the jungle. But the jungle wasn't the wildest thing Anna would take on - as just a year later, the star made headlines by snapping up her very own zoo. Swapping scatter cushions for safari-style chaos, Anna bought the crumbling Manor House Wildlife Park in rural Pembrokeshire in 2008 with her ex-husband - and set out to turn it into a top tourist hotspot. Her rollercoaster mission was even turned into telly gold in Chaos at the Zoo, which followed the highs and lows of juggling animals, renovations and rogue rhinos. Since taking over, Anna has poured her heart (and serious cash) into the place - building a £300k rhino house and welcoming in new residents including lions, zebras and parrots. Owning a zoo might sound like a dream - but for Anna, it turned into a nightmare behind the scenes. Clueless star Twink Caplan resurfaces with her quirky charm for the first time in 5 years as 90s movie gets reboot Running Manor Wildlife Park put huge pressure on her marriage, and by 2017, the strain proved too much. The star and her husband called it quits, later telling the Mail Online that the 'stresses and strains and expense of running our wildlife park have destroyed our marriage.' Things soon turned messy, with the split spiralling into a bitter legal battle over who would keep the zoo. Anna described the ordeal as a 'horrid limbo' as the once united animal lovers fought tooth and claw over the future of their wild empire. Hottest home trends for 2025 Renovations expert Andy Simms, from revealed the hottest interior design trends for this year. COLOUR DRENCHING Colour drenching involves using your colour across walls and ceilings to maximise the impact and create the illusion of a bigger space - doors, radiators, and even furniture won't escape the paint job if you want the full effect. Brown, terracotta, beige - once the preserve of the 70s, earthy colours have been slowly gaining popularity. Similarly, bold greens and blues are also making a return, with the intention of colour drenching rooms. STATEMENT WALLPAPER Wallpaper divides designers, with some loving it and others preferring painted walls. 2025 will see a resurgence of wallpaper, and the bolder the better. For small spaces, such as downstairs loos or studies, choose a bold print and ignore any concerns about making the space look smaller. For larger spaces, consider a stunning mural theme. BROKEN LIVING PLAN Open plan living has been popular for over a decade now, but while it hasn't quite had its day, many are returning to smaller, functional spaces - with a twist. 'Broken plan' is when a bigger space is cut into various parts using screens, archways, crittal-style windows and doors or textured glass. Speaking on the How To Be 60 podcast, Anna didn't hold back as she opened up about the fallout of her bitter split - and her unexpected new chapter. Chatting to Loose Women star Kaye Adams, the 61-year-old said: 'I am enjoying a bit of celibacy, to be honest... but we've dived straight in there, haven't we? I'm officially still married for another few weeks.' Reflecting on the turmoil of the past few years, she added: 'It's been probably the worst time, I think. It's actually been going on for such a long time. Have I wasted all that time? Being in this horrid limbo and control and not really living my life, even though I look like them.' But after a long and painful battle, October 2024 finally brought closure - and a new beginning - with Anna officially returning to the helm at Manor Wildlife Park, ready to roar once more. In a statement the former TV star said: 'I am very excited, it has been a long time coming, but I am finally back with my beloved animals, incredible team, and excited to greet our visitors into the park. I have huge plans for the future of Manor Wildlife Park.' 6 Anna made a wild change after her TV fame Credit: BBC 6 She manages the zoo with rhinos, lions, zebras and parrots Credit: Instagram 6 The star split from her husband in 2018 after 13 years of marriage Credit: D Legakis Photography/Athena
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
TV host of classic 90s show has a very different career that's worlds away from her telly fame
CHANGING Rooms legend Anna Ryder Richardson swapped wallpaper samples for wild animals after leaving TV - and now runs her very own zoo. The telly favourite, once known for bold interior makeovers that divided the nation, has traded MDF and mood boards for meerkats and monkeys at her Welsh wildlife park. 6 6 She was the queen of the quick makeover - but these days Changing Rooms legend Anna Ryder Richardson is more at home with lemurs than living rooms. Anna shot to fame alongside Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen transforming Britain's blandest lounges, until the hit BBC show ended in 2004. She first found her flair for interiors while working in a kids' furniture shop, before landing a design slot on GMTV in 1996. It was there she rubbed shoulders with celeb chef Ainsley Harriott - who helped her bag her big break on Changing Rooms. After 10 series of telly makeovers and power tool drama, Anna swapped wallpaper for welly boots and headed Down Under for I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2007, where she became the sixth star voted out of the jungle. But the jungle wasn't the wildest thing Anna would take on - as just a year later, the star made headlines by snapping up her very own zoo. Swapping scatter cushions for safari-style chaos, Anna bought the crumbling Manor House Wildlife Park in rural Pembrokeshire in 2008 with her ex-husband - and set out to turn it into a top tourist hotspot. Her rollercoaster mission was even turned into telly gold in Chaos at the Zoo, which followed the highs and lows of juggling animals, renovations and rogue rhinos. Since taking over, Anna has poured her heart (and serious cash) into the place - building a £300k rhino house and welcoming in new residents including lions, zebras and parrots. Owning a zoo might sound like a dream - but for Anna, it turned into a nightmare behind the scenes. Clueless star Twink Caplan resurfaces with her quirky charm for the first time in 5 years as 90s movie gets reboot Running Manor Wildlife Park put huge pressure on her marriage, and by 2017, the strain proved too much. The star and her husband called it quits, later telling the Mail Online that the 'stresses and strains and expense of running our wildlife park have destroyed our marriage.' Things soon turned messy, with the split spiralling into a bitter legal battle over who would keep the zoo. Anna described the ordeal as a 'horrid limbo' as the once united animal lovers fought tooth and claw over the future of their wild empire. Hottest home trends for 2025 Renovations expert Andy Simms, from revealed the hottest interior design trends for this year. COLOUR DRENCHING Colour drenching involves using your colour across walls and ceilings to maximise the impact and create the illusion of a bigger space - doors, radiators, and even furniture won't escape the paint job if you want the full effect. Brown, terracotta, beige - once the preserve of the 70s, earthy colours have been slowly gaining popularity. Similarly, bold greens and blues are also making a return, with the intention of colour drenching rooms. STATEMENT WALLPAPER Wallpaper divides designers, with some loving it and others preferring painted walls. 2025 will see a resurgence of wallpaper, and the bolder the better. For small spaces, such as downstairs loos or studies, choose a bold print and ignore any concerns about making the space look smaller. For larger spaces, consider a stunning mural theme. BROKEN LIVING PLAN Open plan living has been popular for over a decade now, but while it hasn't quite had its day, many are returning to smaller, functional spaces - with a twist. 'Broken plan' is when a bigger space is cut into various parts using screens, archways, crittal-style windows and doors or textured glass. Speaking on the How To Be 60 podcast, Anna didn't hold back as she opened up about the fallout of her bitter split - and her unexpected new chapter. Chatting to Loose Women star Kaye Adams, the 61-year-old said: 'I am enjoying a bit of celibacy, to be honest... but we've dived straight in there, haven't we? I'm officially still married for another few weeks.' Reflecting on the turmoil of the past few years, she added: 'It's been probably the worst time, I think. It's actually been going on for such a long time. Have I wasted all that time? Being in this horrid limbo and control and not really living my life, even though I look like them.' But after a long and painful battle, October 2024 finally brought closure - and a new beginning - with Anna officially returning to the helm at Manor Wildlife Park, ready to roar once more. In a statement the former TV star said: 'I am very excited, it has been a long time coming, but I am finally back with my beloved animals, incredible team, and excited to greet our visitors into the park. I have huge plans for the future of Manor Wildlife Park.' 6 6 6
