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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Rev Richard Coles: 'Intense grief is the tribute that you pay for the person you've lost'
Showbiz divas are nothing new to writer, broadcaster and retired vicar The Rev Richard Coles, whose first Canon Clement book Murder Before Evensong is currently being adapted for TV. 'I have spent some time around divas. I've always been rather fascinated by them. 'It's interesting, because a diva is a rather disparaging term for someone who's extremely difficult, capricious – and they can be all those things. 'But often they are operating in a very competitive world and they are doing their thing – and that sometimes mean you take no prisoners. I rather like divas and I have some divas in my life and enjoy their company.' Coles, 63, whose latest tour Borderline National Trinket is a title which arguably sums him up, says he loves fame and indeed has fuelled it with his fair share of reality TV gigs, including Strictly Come Dancing and I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! (he came third in 2024), and his appearances on numerous panel shows, his bestselling novels and several podcasts. Now in an enclave of cosy crime writers – he has known Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club king of cosy crime, for some years – who gather at crime festivals, he says that far from being competitive, it's a very supportive, friendly world. 'When Murder Before Evensong went to number one, Richard sent me a little note saying, 'Do you remember when years ago, we used to talk about murder mysteries? And here we are.' That was very generous of him.' Coles has taken to asking everyone he meets about how they would murder someone in their profession, he continues. 'I had a fascinating conversation with some dentists in Egypt about how they would murder someone, which I'm definitely going to use, and I'm spending an evening with The British Tunnelling Society which will be useful on how to dispose of a body,' he says dryly. Richard Coles. Picture: Matt Crockett Being on set during some of the filming of Murder Before Evensong, due to be broadcast in October on Channel 5 and starring Matthew Lewis (who played Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films) and Amanda Redman as the canon's indefatigable mother, Audrey, also provided the spark of inspiration for the latest novel, A Death On Location. Set in 1990, it sees Daniel Clement and his sidekick Det Sgt Neil Vanhoo – for whom his interest is both professional and personal – investigating the stabbing of a local woman, an extra on the set of a Hollywood movie being shot at the fictional Champton House in the eponymous rural village. He jokes that his title of executive producer for the TV adaptation isn't as grand as it sounds. 'You get a bacon sandwich from catering,' he muses. 'I get given a set of headphones, then I can walk around looking important. I don't know anything about adapting books for television so I'm very happy to leave that to people who know how to do that. 'I talked to the actors quite a lot, especially Matt Lewis, about what it's like being a priest, with some suggestions.' One of the main characters in his latest novel is acting diva Gillian Smith – not based on anyone he knows but you get the impression he writes with authority – one of an array of suspects along with directors, assistants and others in the film-making process. His fictional diva relies on her minions to do everything for her, is deliberately unreliable and makes outrageous demands – and Coles has witnessed similar in real life, although he's far too diplomatic to name names. 'There are little things, like spectacular lateness. I mean hours late, days late, weeks late. I write a bit about Gillian that whenever she goes out to dinner, her poor PA has to fax instructions to the host saying what she will do and what she won't do. That's all based on real life experience of a certain diva I know. The Rev Richard Coles with his dogs Pongo and Daisy (Matt Crockett/PA) 'If you are cossetted and people jump when you want them to jump, you get used to that pretty quick.' Diva behaviour isn't something completely alien to the former Church of England vicar. He recalls that as a member of Eighties band The Communards it was easy to forget that fame wasn't a natural state of affairs. 'What's tough is when you stop being a pop star and return to civilian ranks. I remember once going to the airport just after The Communards had finished, and just presenting myself at the VIP check-in, and the computer said no. And I thought, 'How could you be so rude?' Then after a while I realised I just wasn't in that category anymore.' These days, he still loves being in the spotlight, he admits. 'I do like attention. Put on a spotlight and I'll run towards it.' His showbiz pals include influencer GK Barry, whom he met on I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! He's hoping to work on a new project with her. 'We got on so well and it was such an unlikely friendship and people seemed to enjoy it. I like visiting her world and trying to figure out what's going on and I think she quite likes visiting my world, so may a little trip together would be fun to do. 'I love the TV reality format because you always have a 'bromance', but I've never had a bromance with a 25-year-old lesbian before, and that's great.' He doesn't bring his showbiz life home to East Sussex, he stresses. His partner, actor Richard 'Dickie' Cant, son of the late actor and children's TV presenter Brian Cant, whom he met in 2022 on a dating app, is about to move in. 'I think I'm quite difficult to live with. I'm very chirpy in the morning, which doesn't always go down well. And we have to negotiate our way around things like Match Of The Day. He's not very keen on football. He asked me one day if Arsenal was Spurs. 'He's quite tough, and he doesn't take any messing from me. If he needs to put me right on something, he does, and that's fine. He's just a great guy.' Will he marry again? 'I think so, probably, but all in good time.' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson/PA) He says he's enjoying his 60s enormously, yet life hasn't been all glitterballs and glamour for the famous vicar. He has suffered his share of grief – the death of his husband David from alcohol addiction at the end of 2019 while Coles was still vicar of Finedon, Northamptonshire, of his mother last year and recently his two dogs, Pongo and Daisy. Yet he can see the positive side of grief. 'Intense grief is the tribute that you pay for the person you've lost. So I don't begrudge it at all. I'm used to the feeling of grief.' When he's home, he helps out in his local parish but doesn't have the same day-to-day connections with the community that he had as vicar of Finedon. 'I do miss it – I loved being a vicar, it was great.' But he has plenty to keep him busy. He'll have another Canon Clement novel out at Christmas, is writing a children's book, and away from the spotlight loves cooking and playing the piano. 'I used to be ambitious but that's burned away now and I'm quite content with my life. I don't have a bucket list, the only thing I can think of is that I'd quite like to learn to yodel.' A Death On Location by Richard Coles is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson on June 5.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Love Island fans enraged at lack of Caroline Flack tribute on 10-year special
Love Island fans were left disappointed after the show's 10-year special episode on Sunday night didn't include a tribute to the late Caroline Flack, the original host of the ITV2 series Love Island fans have been left confused and upset thanks to the show's 10-year anniversary episode lacking a dedicated tribute to Caroline Flack. The one-off special also failed to pay homage to late contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon. The original Love Island presenter took her own life in February 2020 at the age of 40. Prior to her passing, Caroline had stepped back from hosting the ITV2 dating series and had been replaced by Irish presenter Laura Whitmore, wife of the show's narrator Iain Stirling. Caroline's death occurred during the first season of Love Island's winter series, with the show briefly paused before resuming with an on-air tribute to the late presenter from Iain. However, as the reality TV series celebrates a decade on our screens, another tribute to Caroline has been snubbed despite her popularity. The late star was a hit with viewers, with Love Island's 2015 comeback seeing its viewing figures almost double after a 10-year hiatus. Ahead of the series' return this year, ITV aired a 10-year anniversary special episode on Sunday night, honouring the successful history of the enduring reality show. However, amidst the festivities, several fans expressed their disappointment that no tributes were made to Caroline and late Love Island stars Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon. Mike tragically took his own life in 2019 at just 26 years old, while Sophie died by suicide in 2018, aged 32. "Ten years of love island and no sign of Caroline Flack #LoveIsland," one viewer observed on Twitter (X) on Sunday night, with another raging: "Sorry but watch #LoveIsland won't even pay tribute to acknowledge the late Mike and Sophie or even Caroline bet they just wanna show clips of the drama and loved up couples of they don't poor on Love Island not to really is @LoveIsland." "I don't like that they didn't do a mini tribute to Caroline Flack, she was basically responsible for the show coming back #LoveIsland," a third argued as another mused: "Did anyone else think there would be like an in memoriam thing at the end for Caroline Flack? Kind of weird there wasn't? #LoveIsland." Despite this, some viewers admitted how joyful it was to see vintage footage of Caroline presenting the show featured in the programme. "The hardest part of watching back Love Island's ten years of highlights is seeing how happy Caroline was," one emotional viewer penned. "Love Island was truly her happy place." After Caroline's death in February 2020, a coroner ruled she took her own life after learning prosecutors were going to press ahead with an assault charge over an incident involving her boyfriend, Lewis Burton. She was best known for presenting ITV reality show Love Island from 2015 to 2019, and was also a presenter on The X Factor, I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! NOW! and TMi. In 2014, she won series 12 of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered by professional dancer Pasha Kovalev, achieving a perfect score in the final. An upcoming Disney+ documentary follows Caroline's mother as she tries to understand events in the final months of her daughter's life, while also celebrating her career. *If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@ or visit their site to find your local branch
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Sam Thompson raises more than £100,000 on first day of Soccer Aid challenge
On Monday, the 32-year-old set off from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium in London, the location of last year's charity match in aid of Unicef, and ran a full marathon before cycling a further 23 miles to reach Milton Keynes. He will end the challenge at Manchester United's Old Trafford, which will host the 2025 game that Thompson is due to play in. Speaking at the day one finish line in Buckinghamshire, Thompson said: 'Day one was terrifying. I can't believe I did it. I was so worried that no one would turn up for me, but as I started to approach the stadium and the finish line, I could hear the cheering. 'I started to get emotional. It means so much to me that people turned out. 'It's been tougher than I could have imagined and there were points when I was really struggling. 'I was in a lot of pain after the marathon, but before I started the bike I was checked over by the physio and medical team, just to make sure I was fit enough to carry on. 'I'm taking one step at a time, one pedal at a time, but I'm going to find a way to make it to the finish and stay focused on why I'm doing this. 'It's to raise as much money for Unicef as we can – to support the incredible work they do for children around the world. That's what this is all about.' A post shared by Sam Thompson (@samthompsonuk) Thompson ran 26 miles towards Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where he then cycled 23 miles further to the first finish line at MK Dons's Stadium MK ground in Milton Keynes. The I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! winner, who has so far raised £100,603.46 for Unicef, was joined by This Morning's Ben Shephard for part of the cycling leg. TV presenter Shephard, 50, said: 'I think Sam is incredibly brave and courageous taking on a challenge like this. I've done some physical ultra-marathons and I know that it takes its toll. 'Mentally it's a really tough battle because for five days he's got to run five marathons then having finished, jump on the bike on top of that. 'What I know and love about Sam is his enthusiasm, his energy and his positivity and that is going to be tested to his absolute limit. 'He's going to have to draw on all of his experience of meeting the children in Guatemala that inspired him with their joy that got them through all sorts of really difficult things in their lives. 'Sam's got the biggest heart and despite the pain he's going to be going through, I can't wait to see him cross that finish line on Friday and get that ball to Old Trafford.' Thompson was joined at the start line by his sister Louise Thompson, her partner Ryan Libbey, his nephew Leo, and comedian Joel Dommett, who ran with him for the first 20km. From Stadium MK, Thompson will travel to Aston Villa's Villa Park in Birmingham, then on to Port Vale's Vale Park in Stoke-on-Trent, then to Everton's Goodison Park in Liverpool, before finishing at Old Trafford. A post shared by Soccer Aid for UNICEF (@socceraid) His journey will be broadcast live on ITV's This Morning and Hits Radio each day, with the star due to arrive at the finish line on Friday June 6. The challenge, which sees him running five marathons and cycling over 130 miles, will also feature in a one-off documentary on ITV1, Sam Thompson's Match Ball Mission, which will air in the lead-up to Soccer Aid for Unicef. Thompson is taking on the challenge to raise money for Unicef's work to help children grow up safe and healthy. Soccer Aid 2025 will take place on Sunday June 15, at Old Trafford, and will be broadcast live on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Sam Thompson raises more than £100,000 on first day of Soccer Aid challenge
On Monday, the 32-year-old set off from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium in London, the location of last year's charity match in aid of Unicef, and ran a full marathon before cycling a further 23 miles to reach Milton Keynes. He will end the challenge at Manchester United's Old Trafford, which will host the 2025 game that Thompson is due to play in. Speaking at the day one finish line in Buckinghamshire, Thompson said: 'Day one was terrifying. I can't believe I did it. I was so worried that no one would turn up for me, but as I started to approach the stadium and the finish line, I could hear the cheering. 'I started to get emotional. It means so much to me that people turned out. 'It's been tougher than I could have imagined and there were points when I was really struggling. 'I was in a lot of pain after the marathon, but before I started the bike I was checked over by the physio and medical team, just to make sure I was fit enough to carry on. 'I'm taking one step at a time, one pedal at a time, but I'm going to find a way to make it to the finish and stay focused on why I'm doing this. 'It's to raise as much money for Unicef as we can – to support the incredible work they do for children around the world. That's what this is all about.' A post shared by Sam Thompson (@samthompsonuk) Thompson ran 26 miles towards Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where he then cycled 23 miles further to the first finish line at MK Dons's Stadium MK ground in Milton Keynes. The I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! winner, who has so far raised £100,603.46 for Unicef, was joined by This Morning's Ben Shephard for part of the cycling leg. TV presenter Shephard, 50, said: 'I think Sam is incredibly brave and courageous taking on a challenge like this. I've done some physical ultra-marathons and I know that it takes its toll. 'Mentally it's a really tough battle because for five days he's got to run five marathons then having finished, jump on the bike on top of that. 'What I know and love about Sam is his enthusiasm, his energy and his positivity and that is going to be tested to his absolute limit. 'He's going to have to draw on all of his experience of meeting the children in Guatemala that inspired him with their joy that got them through all sorts of really difficult things in their lives. 'Sam's got the biggest heart and despite the pain he's going to be going through, I can't wait to see him cross that finish line on Friday and get that ball to Old Trafford.' Thompson was joined at the start line by his sister Louise Thompson, her partner Ryan Libbey, his nephew Leo, and comedian Joel Dommett, who ran with him for the first 20km. From Stadium MK, Thompson will travel to Aston Villa's Villa Park in Birmingham, then on to Port Vale's Vale Park in Stoke-on-Trent, then to Everton's Goodison Park in Liverpool, before finishing at Old Trafford. A post shared by Soccer Aid for UNICEF (@socceraid) His journey will be broadcast live on ITV's This Morning and Hits Radio each day, with the star due to arrive at the finish line on Friday June 6. The challenge, which sees him running five marathons and cycling over 130 miles, will also feature in a one-off documentary on ITV1, Sam Thompson's Match Ball Mission, which will air in the lead-up to Soccer Aid for Unicef. Thompson is taking on the challenge to raise money for Unicef's work to help children grow up safe and healthy. Soccer Aid 2025 will take place on Sunday June 15, at Old Trafford, and will be broadcast live on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Sam Thompson raises more than £100,000 on first day of Soccer Aid challenge
On Monday, the 32-year-old set off from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium in London, the location of last year's charity match in aid of Unicef, and ran a full marathon before cycling a further 23 miles to reach Milton Keynes. He will end the challenge at Manchester United's Old Trafford, which will host the 2025 game that Thompson is due to play in. Speaking at the day one finish line in Buckinghamshire, Thompson said: 'Day one was terrifying. I can't believe I did it. I was so worried that no one would turn up for me, but as I started to approach the stadium and the finish line, I could hear the cheering. Sam Thompson sets off with comedian Joel Dommett on a 250-mile run/bike challenge for Soccer Aid beginning at Stamford Bridge, west London (James Manning/PA) 'I started to get emotional. It means so much to me that people turned out. 'It's been tougher than I could have imagined and there were points when I was really struggling. 'I was in a lot of pain after the marathon, but before I started the bike I was checked over by the physio and medical team, just to make sure I was fit enough to carry on. 'I'm taking one step at a time, one pedal at a time, but I'm going to find a way to make it to the finish and stay focused on why I'm doing this. 'It's to raise as much money for Unicef as we can – to support the incredible work they do for children around the world. That's what this is all about.' Thompson ran 26 miles towards Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where he then cycled 23 miles further to the first finish line at MK Dons's Stadium MK ground in Milton Keynes. The I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! winner, who has so far raised £100,603.46 for Unicef, was joined by This Morning's Ben Shephard for part of the cycling leg. TV presenter Shephard, 50, said: 'I think Sam is incredibly brave and courageous taking on a challenge like this. I've done some physical ultra-marathons and I know that it takes its toll. 'Mentally it's a really tough battle because for five days he's got to run five marathons then having finished, jump on the bike on top of that. 'What I know and love about Sam is his enthusiasm, his energy and his positivity and that is going to be tested to his absolute limit. Sam Thompson ahead of his Unicef challenge (James Manning/PA) 'He's going to have to draw on all of his experience of meeting the children in Guatemala that inspired him with their joy that got them through all sorts of really difficult things in their lives. 'Sam's got the biggest heart and despite the pain he's going to be going through, I can't wait to see him cross that finish line on Friday and get that ball to Old Trafford.' Thompson was joined at the start line by his sister Louise Thompson, her partner Ryan Libbey, his nephew Leo, and comedian Joel Dommett, who ran with him for the first 20km. From Stadium MK, Thompson will travel to Aston Villa's Villa Park in Birmingham, then on to Port Vale's Vale Park in Stoke-on-Trent, then to Everton's Goodison Park in Liverpool, before finishing at Old Trafford. His journey will be broadcast live on ITV's This Morning and Hits Radio each day, with the star due to arrive at the finish line on Friday June 6. The challenge, which sees him running five marathons and cycling over 130 miles, will also feature in a one-off documentary on ITV1, Sam Thompson's Match Ball Mission, which will air in the lead-up to Soccer Aid for Unicef. Thompson is taking on the challenge to raise money for Unicef's work to help children grow up safe and healthy. Soccer Aid 2025 will take place on Sunday June 15, at Old Trafford, and will be broadcast live on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
