Jon Richardson has been a familiar face on British television for years, but his life behind the cameras has taken many unexpected turns. The comedian, known for his quick wit and famously detail-oriented personality, has faced a challenging period in both his personal life and career as he continues to evolve beyond the world of stand-up comedy.
Relationships and Family
Jon Richardson, 43, spent almost ten years married to fellow comic Lucy Beaumont. Together, they became well-known through their popular mockumentary Meet the Richardsons and regular appearances on comedy panel shows. The duo gained recognition for co-creating and starring in the sitcom, which presented amusing and heavily fictionalised portrayals of their life together as a married couple.
Their real-life romance began after fellow comedian Roisin Conaty introduced them, and the two quickly formed a strong bond before marrying in April 2015. The couple relocated from London to a renovated farmhouse in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. They have a daughter, Elsie, born in September 2016, who was largely shielded from the public eye despite occasional humorous references on the programme.
Separation
Jon and Lucy announced their separation in a joint statement on social media on 12 April 2024. The statement read: "After 9 years of marriage, we would like to announce that we have separated. We have jointly and amicably made the difficult decision to divorce and go our separate ways. As our only priority is managing this difficult transition for our daughter, we would ask that our privacy is respected at this sensitive time to protect her well-being. We will be making no further comment."
Subsequently, Lucy told OK! magazine that she would not discuss the reasons behind the marriage breakdown. She explained: "People might think I should talk about it because we were so public and everyone knew us as a couple, but I won't, and not because there's any animosity. We both agreed that while it might be weird for other people not hearing anything about it, we wouldn't talk about anything to do with the marriage or each other."
Waterloo Road
In April 2025, Jon surprised his social media followers by announcing he would abandon his comedy career to pursue teaching. He told his followers: "I've loved being a comedian, it was absolutely the right choice. But I've decided it would've been nice to try the other option, so that's exactly what I'm gonna do." He then disclosed that he had secured a teaching position, adding: "I've been doing some training, I've taken a teaching position. I will update you as and when I can, but that's all from me for now, just to let you know where I've been."
However, it was later revealed that Jon had fooled his followers and was actually joining the BBC's beloved school drama Waterloo Road. The comedian made his debut appearance in September 2025.
Yorkshire Pub Rescue
Earlier this year, Jon embarked on a fresh endeavour as he attempts to breathe new life into a Yorkshire pub in his series Our Yorkshire Pub Rescue. The More4 observational series charts Jon's journey as he becomes a shareholder in Fadmoor Community Pub Limited, working alongside local residents to restore the historic venue, which dates back to 1782.
Throughout the undertaking, Jon immerses himself in the tight-knit rural community, rolling up his sleeves for the gruelling renovation work while helping navigate the numerous challenges involved in reopening The Plough. While the pub is yet to officially reopen its doors, community spirit is already flourishing. Jon participates in fundraising events, champions the project's eco-conscious goals, and celebrates the locally sourced food and drink found across the picturesque North York Moors.
Discussing the programme and his latest project, he explained: "I love pubs so much that I turned my garage into one, but it didn't scratch the itch so now I've ended up owning one. Or a share of a crumbling one, anyway. When I first heard about The Plough, I had to go and see it and then when I met the amazing people working to rescue it, I couldn't resist getting involved. Like a good pint, they are lively and cool with good heads on them, and they make you feel better about the world."
Bullseye for Soccer Aid airs at 5.55pm on ITV1 tonight.
