Holby City star Ben Richards reveals why becoming a dad is his biggest role yet.
As a stage and television actor, singer and dancer Ben Richards has played a footballer, police officer and physiotherapist in hit TV shows including Holby City and Footballers’ Wives. Now the 45-year-old is playing dad – and this time in real life.
His new role as dad is one he calls a miracle given Ben was once told he may never be able to have children. He had four children who were all still-born due to a rare condition with his ex-wife, Helen Richards. And in 2012 he battled bowel cancer and doctors told him he may never become a dad.
But in March 2015 his partner, the television presenter Kirsty Duffy, gave birth to the couple’s first child Freja Amelie. In an exclusive interview with FQ Magazine Ben said: “She’s a bit of a miracle. She’s amazing and she’s changed my life in the most amazing way.”
Ben rose to fame on the ITV drama Footballers’ Wives and has since starred in high-profile television roles such as The Bill, Hollyoaks and Holby City. No stranger to the stage, he has performed across the UK and West End with leading roles in the likes of Grease, The Full Monty and Saturday Night Fever to name but a few.
This year he performed as Frank Farmer in The Bodyguard opposite Beverly Knight at the Dominion Theatre, London, which broke box office records.
