Inside I’m A Celebrity Reverend Richard Coles forgotten 80s pop star past and messy split

Reverend Richard Coles has won over the nation on I'm a Celebrity (Image: ITV)

Last week, Reverend Richard Coles entered the ITV jungle five days late alongside his co-star and Love Island alumni Maura Higgins.

And it didn't take long before the nation fell in love with the clergyman on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! after listening to his heartbreaking confessions and hilarious stories in the star-studded camp.

But what fans may be surprised to know is that the 62-year-old TV presenter wasn't always a man of faith. In fact, he boasts quite an impressive pop career with singles topping the charts in the mid-80s.

After his first week in the camp, let's take a look inside his surprising pop career and messy split from bandmate Jimmy Somerville.

He formed the pop group The Communards in 1985 (Image: Getty Images) The Communards 

After learning to play the saxophone, keyboard and clarinet, Richard founded The Communards alongside former Bronski Boy singer Jimmer Somerville.

The band formed back in 1985 after they recruited bassist Dave Renwick. Meanwhile, Jimmy provided the vocals for the band, with Richard mainly leading on the instruments.

Although they achieved a top 30 song on their debut album, their biggest hit cam a year later when they covered Thelma Houston's Don't Leave Me This Way.

Their version became the highest selling single in the UK for 1986 and spent four weeks at the top of the charts.

Later that year, the band also released their single So Cold The Night, which peaked at number eight on the charts. The Communards ultimately released two albums before they split in 1988.

The band broke up in 1988 after several chart-topping hits (Image: Redferns) Their split  

Opening up about their split to Classic Pop Magazine in 2022, Richard said of their breakup: "I don't think we understood each other. Our lives were so different, we didn't really have the tools for finding our way through disagreements.

"It was obvious we had nothing left to give each other. We never actually split up though. We just decided to stop for a while. It's a pause that's lasted 33 years."

Jimmy and Richard's career took two unexpected paths following their split. Jimmy continued in the music industry and has gone on to release six studio albums since the dissolution of The Communards, scooping two awards along the way.

Meanwhile, Richard converted to Anglicism in 1991 and became an ordained priest in 2005. He retired from the Church in 2022 citing homophobic attitudes within the institution.

The star has also become a famous broadcaster, appearing on a myriad of TV shows as well as writing a novel series titled Canon Clement Mysteries.

Current relationship  

In addition to breaking up the band, the pair parted ways on bitter terms after Richard allegedly lied to Jimmy about being HIV positive.

Speaking to the Independent in 2015, Jimmy explained: "I'd known lots of people who had died, people who were ill.

"I was in my own dark place of trying to deal with everything that was happening so I put a barrier up and we didn't speak for a long time."

However, the pair have since repaired their friendship and often exchanged messages before Richard published his autobiography back in 2014.

In an interview with Retro Pop Magazine, Richard saif of their current relationship: "It's always good to see him and I will always be very grateful for him and love him very much."