Fans and friends of Reverend Richard Coles got the message “Happy Birthday Richard” trending on Thursday morning, to help brighten up the former Strictly Come Dancing star’s big day.
It’s been an especially difficult few months for the former Communards musician, whose civil partner and fellow reverend David Coles died last year, at the age of 43, after a long illness.
Richard acknowledged this in a Twitter post marking his birthday, writing: “Fifty-eight, widowed, lonely, locked-down, straitened, and fat... but NO ONE can take my kippers.”
It didn’t take long for Twitter to become awash with messages from both his celebrity fans and supporters, so much so that “Happy Birthday Richard” became the top trend in the UK...
The celebrity vicar, who appeared on Strictly back in 2017, entered into a civil partnership with David after the Church of England allowed it in 2005.
He and David lived together with their dogs – dachshunds Daisy, Pongo, Audrey and Horatio – in the vicarage of St Mary’s in Finedon, Northamptonshire.
Richard often spoke with love about David and their life together, particularly on his Radio 4 show Saturday Live and during his appearances on Radio 2.
In 2005, Richard was ordained into the Anglican priesthood, and lived a celibate life with David, a curate in a neighbouring parish.
Earlier this month, Richard spoke about the grief he was feeling in the wake of David’s death, saying the loss had left his future feeling “blank”.
“I got in the other night,” he said, “and fed the dogs and lit a fire and cooked some supper. I got into my pyjamas and had a nightcap. I then looked at my watch and it was 10 past six.
“I’ve had to subtract David from the future and that has taken all the future with it. It’s a bit blank. I think: ’What the fuck am I going to do? Play the accordion and go to bed at 10 past six, I guess. Of course, it’s not the end of my life. But it feels like it’s over sometimes.”