Yahoo News Rev Richard Coles thought he was 'done' before finding love on dating app after husband's death
The star opened up during an interview with Lorraine Kelly
Rev Richard Coles has said he thought he was "out of the game" before finding love on a dating app four years after the death of his husband.
The priest’s partner Rev David Coles died in 2019 after a battle with alcoholism, and Coles revealed he thought he was “done” with relationships following his death.
But during an interview on ITV’s Lorraine he said that, like a “polar bear awakening from hibernation”, he started to want to meet someone so went on a dating site.
Read more: Rev Richard Coles opens up on grief for late partner David: 'It's a good thing, a tribute you pay'
“It was called Elite Singles which was a bit embarrassing because I didn’t feel particularly elite but I definitely was single,” he said.
“I wanted to meet someone who would like I what wanted, which is to share a life and had been round the block and lived in my sort of my sort of world.
“So I did and actually the third person I met is the person I’m with now.”
The former Strictly Come Dancing star told host Lorraine Kelly: “I thought I was out of the game after David died and I thought, ‘Well that’s me done with that.’
“And then I think it was a bit like a polar bear awakening from hibernation and wanting to meet a seal. All of a sudden I thought, ‘I need a seal’.”
The star said he’d tell anyone lonely and looking for companionship that dating websites are “a brilliant, brilliant idea”.
I’m very sorry to say that @RevDavidColes has died. He had been ill for a while. Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at @KettGeneral. Funeral details to follow. “The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended”. pic.twitter.com/usvLDIBDv7
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 17, 2019
Coles and David met in 2007.
In December 2019 the TV star posted a message on Twitter saying his partner had passed away.
“I’m very sorry to say that @RevDavidColes has died,” he said.
Read more: Reverend Richard Coles reveals partner died of alcoholism
“He had been ill for a while. Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at @KettGeneral. Funeral details to follow. ‘The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended’.”
Watch: Lorraine Kelly runs into trouble after losing her voice before going live on air
