{{Short description|British actor, dancer (b. 1972)}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Ben Richards | image = | caption = | imagesize = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|3|27|df=y}} | birth_place = [[West Sussex, England|West Sussex]], England | occupation = Actor, dancer | partner = Kirsty Duffy | children = 1 | website = {{Website defunct|www.benrichards.com}} }} '''Ben Richards''' (born 27 March 1972 in [[West Sussex]], England<ref name=early>{{cite web|title=20 Questions With...Ben Richards|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/interviews/theatre/london/E8821053692151/20+Questions+With...Ben+Richards.html|work=[[Whatsonstage.com]]|accessdate=8 February 2012|date=2 June 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427181520/http://www.whatsonstage.com/interviews/theatre/london/E8821053692151/20+Questions+With...Ben+Richards.html|archive-date=27 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>) is a British stage and television actor and dancer. Richards studied dance from an early age and later took part in theatre. He gained supporting roles in London's West End and gradually filled the role of the lead. After small roles in two films, Richards began his television career with guest roles in various British serials. In 2005, he joined the regular cast of the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] drama ''[[Footballers' Wives]]'' and after the series ended he resumed theatre work. Richards went on to secure roles in ''[[Holby City]]'' and ''[[The Bill]]''. While working on the latter, Richards said that he would always pursue his career in theatre, which he did after leaving. In 2015, he joined the cast of the soap opera ''[[Hollyoaks]]'' as [[Ben Bradley (Hollyoaks)|Ben Bradley]] and remained as a regular for a year. He then returned to stage roles in the West End. Richards has also starred in several [[pantomimes]], including ''Beauty and the Beast'' in 2017.
==Career== Richards began dancing aged seven and later attended the dance college [[Laine Theatre Arts]]. He later began appearing in a number of theatre productions in London's West End.<ref name=bbc/> He appeared in supporting roles in the productions of ''Radio Times'', ''[[Up on the Roof (musical)|Up on the Roof]]'', ''[[Hot Mikado]]'' and ''[[Smokey Joe's Cafe (revue)|Smokey Joe's Cafe]]''.<ref name=early/> In 1993, he was playing Terry Johnson in ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'', with music direction by Mike Dixon.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Galpin|first=Richard|title=Those summer niiiiiiiiiights|journal=BIG!|date=30 June – 13 July 1993|issue=26|pages=15–16|publisher=[[EMAP]]}}</ref> In 1998, he secured his first lead role playing Tony Manero in ''[[Saturday Night Fever (musical)|Saturday Night Fever]]''. He later returned to the West End production of ''Grease'', this time playing the lead character Danny Zuko.<ref name=early/> Richards made his film debut in the 1997 movie ''[[Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis]]'' and in 1999 secured a role in ''Julie and the Cadillacs''.<ref name=early/> Guest roles followed in the [[BBC]] television series' ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' and ''[[Holby City]]''.<ref name=early/> In 2002 he played Jerry in ''[[The Full Monty (musical)|The Full Monty]]'' and, in the following year, played the Dentist in the ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (musical)|Little Shop of Horrors]]''.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|title=The Judges – Ben Richards|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlydancefever/about/ben.shtml|work=[[BBC Online]]|publisher=([[BBC]])|accessdate=7 February 2012}}</ref>
In 2004, Richards joined the cast of [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''[[Footballers' Wives]]'' in the role of Bruno Milligan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Kris|title=Footballers' Wives gets new signing|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a14733/footballers-wives-gets-new-signing.html|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=([[Hachette Filipacchi UK]])|accessdate=7 February 2012|date=16 June 2004}}</ref> He also appeared in the [[ITV2]] spin-off ''[[Footballers' Wives: Extra Time]]''.<ref name=asd/> In early 2006, it was announced that Richards had joined the cast of ''Holby City'' playing a new character, [[Justin Fuller]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilkes|first=Neil|title='Footballers' Wives' star checks into 'Holby'|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a28725/footballers-wives-star-checks-into-holby.html|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=([[Hachette Filipacchi UK]])|accessdate=7 February 2012|date=3 February 2006}}</ref> remaining in the series for four months.<ref name=asd/> Richards then played Sky Masterson in the UK tour of ''[[Guys and Dolls (musical)|Guys and Dolls]]'' in 2006.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Claire Sweeney talks about starring in Guys and Dolls|url=http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/tm_objectid=17445755&method=full&siteid=50100&headline=claire-sweeney-talks-about-starring-in-guys-and-dolls-name_page.html|work=[[Uxbridge Gazette]]|publisher=([[Trinity Mirror]])|accessdate=7 February 2012|date=27 July 2006}}</ref> That year Richards became a judge on the second series of ''[[Strictly Dance Fever]]''.<ref name=bbc/>
In 2007, he began playing the role of [[Nate Roberts (TV character)|Nate Roberts]] in police drama ''[[The Bill]]''.<ref name=asd>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Kris|title=Ex-'Footballers' Wives' actor transfers to 'The Bill'|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s20/the-bill/news/a66464/ex-footballers-wives-actor-transfers-to-the-bill.html|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=([[Hachette Filipacchi UK]])|accessdate=7 February 2012|date=18 July 2007}}</ref> He also appeared as Nate for an episode of the German series ''[[Leipzig Homicide]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nate learns a lesson in life|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nate+learns+a+lesson+in+life.-a0197394223|work=[[The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne newspaper)|The Journal]]|publisher=([[Trinity Mirror]])|accessdate=8 February 2012|date=8 April 2009}}</ref> The character of Nate became popular and the producers signed Richards to a new one-year contract. However, Richards told Laura Davidson of the ''[[Sunday Mail (Scotland)|Sunday Mail]]'' that he still wanted to pursue his career in musical theatre.<ref name=mail>{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Laura|title=The Bill star Ben Richards has a tough time as playground policeman|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/2009/04/12/the-bill-star-ben-richards-has-a-tough-time-as-playground-policeman-78057-21273598/|work=[[Sunday Mail (Scotland)|Sunday Mail]]|publisher=([[Trinity Mirror]])|accessdate=8 February 2012|date=12 April 2009}}</ref> In 2010, Richards decided to leave ''The Bill'' before it was axed by ITV. He then took over [[Jason Donovan]]'s role of Tick in the West End production of ''[[Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (musical)|Priscilla, Queen of the Desert]]''.
In 2011, Richards signed up to appear in a production of ''[[Peter Pan (play and novel)|Peter Pan]]'' playing the role of [[Captain Hook]], which premiered at the [[Grand Canal Theatre]].<ref name=rte>{{cite web|title=Ben Richards Interview|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0626/benrichardsinterview.html|work=[[RTÉ.ie]]|publisher=([[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]])|accessdate=7 February 2012|date=26 June 2011}}</ref> In an interview with [[RTÉ.ie|RTE]], Richards revealed that he had previously auditioned for roles in ''[[Coronation Street]]'' but was unsuccessful because of his southern accent.<ref name=rte/>
In March 2012, while battling illness, Richards returned to his home town of [[Bognor Regis]] to perform his own show titled ''An Evening with Ben Richards''.<ref name=bognor/> He told a reporter from the ''Bognor Regis Observer'' that the show was a one-off to see how it would be received.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ben Richards to return to Bognor Regis for one-off show|url=http://www.bognor.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainment/ben-richards-to-return-to-bognor-regis-for-one-off-show-1-3617116|work=Bognor Regis Observer|publisher=([[Johnston Press]])|accessdate=1 April 2012|date=14 March 2012}}</ref>
In June 2012, it was announced that Richards would be playing the part of Franklin Hart, Jr. in the first UK tour production of the Broadway musical, ''[[9 to 5 (musical)|9 to 5]]''. The tour began at the [[Manchester Opera House]] on 12 October 2012.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Cast: Bonnie Langford clocks in for ''9 to 5: The Musical''|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831340967966/Cast:+Bonnie+Langford+clocks+in+for+9+to+5:+the+Musical.html |work=Whatsonstage|publisher= |accessdate=29 June 2012|date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701112339/http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831340967966/Cast%3A+Bonnie+Langford+clocks+in+for+9+to+5%3A+the+Musical.html|archive-date=1 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Richards continued to tour the show through 2013.<ref name=patron>{{cite web|title=9 to 5 actor Ben Richards is backing Snowman Ball event at Hilton Metropole|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/10632312.9_to_5_actor__Ben_Richards_is_backing_Snowman_Ball_event_at_Hilton_Metropole/|work=[[Telegraph & Argus]]|publisher=([[Newsquest]])|accessdate=20 September 2013|date=26 August 2013}}</ref> In April 2015, it was announced that he had joined the cast of the soap opera ''[[Hollyoaks]]'', playing the role of sergeant [[Ben Bradley (Hollyoaks)|Ben Bradley]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kilkelly|first1=Daniel|title=Hollyoaks casts Ben Richards as new police sergeant Ben Bradley|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a642797/hollyoaks-casts-ben-richards-as-new-police-sergeant-ben-bradley.html#~pbgeTmXlIKKJ33|website=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]])|accessdate=29 April 2015|date=20 April 2015}}</ref> He also had an additional guest role in ''Doctors'' playing Mr Kit.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dainty|first1=Sophie|last2=Kilkelly|first2=Daniel|title=Corrie revenge, EastEnders newbie, Emmerdale mistake, Hollyoaks danger|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a647593/corrie-revenge-eastenders-newbie-emmerdale-mistake-hollyoaks-danger.html#~pdlf4vUojT175V|website=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]])|accessdate=21 May 2015|date=17 May 2015}}</ref> He played a lead role in the 2015 film ''Monsoon Tide'', playing Charles Messenger.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ben Richards |url=http://www.laidbackfilms.com/monsoon-tide/monsoon-tide-cast-ben-richards.html |publisher=Laidback Films |accessdate=11 January 2019}}</ref>
In March 2016, it was announced that Richards would be playing Frank Farmer alongside [[Beverley Knight]] in the West End revival of ''[[The Bodyguard (musical)|The Bodyguard]]''.<ref name=":2">{{cite web | url=https://www.bestoftheatre.co.uk/blog/post/bodyguard-casting-update | title=Casting update for the West End Production of The Bodyguard | publisher= | work=bestoftheatre.co.uk | date=11 March 2016 | accessdate=14 March 2016}}</ref> He later announced that he had filmed his final scenes on ''Hollyoaks''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kilkelly|first1=Daniel|title=Hollyoaks star Ben Richards is leaving the show: 'It looks like an unhappy ending'|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/news/a794568/hollyoaks-star-ben-richards-is-leaving-the-show/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]])|accessdate=28 June 2016|date=18 May 2016}}</ref> His character last appeared in the episode broadcast on 28 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kilkelly|first1=Daniel|title=Free Ben Bradley! Hollyoaks has aired the policeman's final scenes|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/news/a795671/hollyoaks-spoilers-ben-bradleys-final-scenes-have-aired/|website=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]])|accessdate=28 June 2016|date=27 May 2016}}</ref> In 2017, he recorded two songs for the album ''Wit & Whimsy - Songs by Alexander S. Bermange''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wit & Whimsy: Songs by Alexander S. Bermange |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wit-Whimsy-Songs-Alexander-Bermange/dp/B06XDPHFZ4 |website=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |accessdate=11 January 2019}}</ref> In October 2021, it was announced by Richards' management that he had been cast in the [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]'' as [[List of Emmerdale characters (2021)#Gavin|Gavin]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Seddon |first1=Dan |title=Emmerdale casts Hollyoaks and Footballers' Wives star Ben Richards in new role |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a37834917/emmerdale-ben-richards-new-role/ |access-date=2 October 2021 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]]) |date=2 October 2021}}</ref> In 2021, the director Benjamin Johns revealed that Richards would appear in his television film ''Relationships''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Benjamin Johns films. Award winning diverse feature films, tv drama and feature docs that make you think. |url=https://benjaminjohnsfilms.com |website=benjaminjohnsfilms.com |access-date=23 May 2022}}</ref>
From 2022 till 2026, Richards has played the role of the Duke of Monroth in ''[[Moulin Rouge! (musical)|Moulin Rouge!]]'' at the [[Piccadilly Theatre]].
==Personal life== He is a former pupil of [[Felpham Community College]].<ref name=bognor>{{cite web|title=Actor gives brilliant performance on home stage|url=http://www.bognor.co.uk/lifestyle/entertainment/actor-gives-brilliant-performance-on-home-stage-1-3649637|work=Bognor Regis Observer|publisher=([[Johnston Press]])|accessdate=1 April 2012|date=24 March 2012}}</ref> Richards was married to Helen Richards in 2003. The couple had four children, all of whom were still-born due to a rare condition. Richards is a patron of Expressions Performing Arts in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to Expressions Performing Arts|url=http://expressionsperformingarts.co.uk/|publisher=Expressions Performing Arts|accessdate=8 February 2012}}</ref>
In January 2012, Richards revealed that he had been diagnosed with [[bowel cancer]]. In March 2012, he spoke publicly about his illness in an interview in ''[[Hello (magazine)|Hello!]]'' magazine. He said that doctors had discovered a six centimetre tumour. Prior to his diagnosis, Richards had been ignoring the symptoms. His doctors also predicted that he would make a full recovery, while his treatment was due to finish later that year.<ref>{{cite web|title='The Bill' star Ben Richards talks about his cancer battle for the first time|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/201203127399/ben-richards-illness-battle/|work=[[Hello (magazine)|Hello!]]|publisher=Hello Ltd. |accessdate=2 April 2012|date=12 March 2012}}</ref> In August 2012, Helen announced on her Twitter account that her relationship with Richards had come to an end.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Alice |title=The Bill's Ben Richards splits from wife |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a397321/the-bill-footballers-wives-actor-ben-richards-splits-from-wife/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]]) |accessdate=10 May 2020 |date=3 August 2012}}</ref>
Richards has been in [[Remission (medicine)|remission]] since January 2013 and soon became a patron of the awareness charity, Bowel Cancer UK.<ref>{{cite web|title=Actor Ben Richards becomes a patron |url=http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news/actor-ben-richards-becomes-patron/ |publisher=Bowel Cancer UK |accessdate=20 September 2013 |date=2 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061457/http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news/actor-ben-richards-becomes-patron/ |archivedate=21 September 2013 }}</ref> He is also a patron for the UK charity Chestnut Tree House.<ref name=patron/> Richards later began a relationship with the television presenter Kirsty Duffy.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Wright Stuff Twitter Account|url=https://twitter.com/5WrightStuff/status/371985212487786496|work=Twitter|accessdate=20 September 2013|date=26 August 2013}}</ref> She gave birth to their first child, daughter Freja Amelie, in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ben Richards exclusively introduces miracle daughter Freja Amelie and announces new Hollyoaks role|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/2015042024690/ben-richards-baby-exclusive/|website=[[Hello (magazine)|Hello!]]|publisher=Hello Ltd.|accessdate=29 April 2015|date=20 April 2015}}</ref>
== Theatre == {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Show ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | 1992 | ''Radio Times'' | Unknown | Original London production<ref name="early" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Ben Richards: Credits, Bio, News & More {{!}} Broadway World |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Ben-Richards/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=www.broadwayworld.com |language=en}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 1993 | ''[[Grease (musical)|Grease]]'' | Terry Johnson | Understudy for Kenickie and Johnny Casino<ref name=":3" /> |- ! scope="row" | 1995 |''[[The Hot Mikado (1939 production)|The Hot Mikado]]'' |Unknown |<ref name=":3" /> |- ! scope="row" | 1998 | ''[[Saturday Night Fever (musical)|Saturday Night Fever]]'' | Tony Manero | |- ! scope="row" | 2003 | ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (musical)|Little Shop of Horrors]]'' | Orin Scrivello | |- ! scope="row" | 2006 |''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' |Sky Masterson |UK tour<ref name=":0" /> |- ! scope="row" | 2010 |''[[Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (musical)|Priscilla, Queen of the Desert]]'' |Tick (Mitzi) |Original London production<ref name=":3" /> |- ! scope="row" | 2011 |''[[Peter Pan (play and novel)|Peter Pan]]'' |Captain Hook |Premiered at the [[Grand Canal Theatre]]<ref name="rte" /> |- ! scope="row" | 2012 |''[[9 to 5 (musical)|9 to 5]]'' |Franklin Hart, Jr. |First UK tour production, beginning at the [[Manchester Opera House]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> |- ! scope="row" | 2016 |''[[The Bodyguard (musical)|The Bodyguard]]'' |Frank Farmer |West End revival<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> |- ! scope="row" | 2022–2026 |''[[Moulin Rouge! (musical)|Moulin Rouge!]]'' |The Duke of Monroth |[[Piccadilly Theatre]]<ref name=":3" /> |}
==Filmography== ===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | 1999 | ''[[Dad (TV series)|Dad]]'' | Tod | Guest role |- ! scope="row" | 2001 | ''[[Holby City]]'' | Glen Acfield | Guest role |- ! scope="row" | 2001 | ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' | Jimmy Lancaster | Guest role |- ! scope="row" | 2005–2006 | ''[[Footballers' Wives]]'' | [[Bruno Milligan]] | Regular role |- ! scope="row" | 2005–2006 | ''[[Footballers' Wives: Extra Time]]'' | Bruno Milligan | Regular role |- ! scope="row" | 2006 | ''Holby City'' | [[Justin Fuller]] | Recurring role |- ! scope="row" | 2007–2010 | ''[[The Bill]]'' | [[Nate Roberts (TV character)|Nate Roberts]] | Regular role |- ! scope="row" | 2009 | ''[[Leipzig Homicide]]'' | Nate Roberts | Guest role |- ! scope="row" | 2015 | ''Doctors'' | Mr Kit | Guest role |- ! scope="row" | 2015–2016 | ''[[Hollyoaks]]'' | [[Ben Bradley (Hollyoaks)|Ben Bradley]] | Regular role |- ! scope="row" | 2017 | ''[[Alex & Co.]]'' | Freddy Wolf | Recurring role |- ! scope="row" | 2018–2019 | ''[[Penny on M.A.R.S.]]'' | Freddy Wolf | Recurring role |- ! scope="row" | 2021–2022 | ''[[Emmerdale]]'' | [[List of Emmerdale characters (2021)#Gavin|Gavin]] | Recurring role |- |}
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- ! scope="row" | 1997 | ''[[Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis]]'' | Mark | Comedy film |- ! scope="row" | 1999 | ''Julie and the Cadillacs'' | Mike Williams | Musical film |- ! scope="row" | 2015 | ''Monsoon Tide'' | Charles Messenger | Drama film |- ! scope="row" | TBA | ''Relationships'' | Jacob | Television film |- |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Ben}} [[Category:1972 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Male actors from West Sussex]] [[Category:English male soap opera actors]]