Jon Richardson has been a familiar face on TV for several years and tonight he appears on Bullseye for Soccer Aid.Jon Richardson to quit comedy for teaching career
Comedian Jon Richardson has experienced a whirlwind few years, both personally and professionally, as he continues to reinvent himself beyond the stand-up stage.
Best known for his sharp wit and famously organised personality, the 43-year-old spent nearly a decade married to fellow comedian Lucy Beaumont, with the pair becoming household names through their hit mockumentary series Meet the Richardsons and also appearing on a number of comedic panel shows.
Following their amicable split in 2024, Jon surprised fans once again by seemingly stepping away from comedy altogether, only for it to emerge that he taking a new direction in his career.
Away from television, the star has also embraced a quieter life in Yorkshire. We’ve taken a closer look inside his life as he appears on Bullseye for Soccer Aid this evening.
Relationships and family
Jon Richardson rose to fame in the comedy circuit(Image: ITV)
Former comedy power couple Jon and fellow comedian Lucy Beaumont were married for nine years.
The pair became well known for co-writing and starring in the popular mockumentary sitcom Meet the Richardsons, which featured humorous and heavily fictionalised takes on 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 connection before marrying in April 2015.
They later moved from London to a converted farmhouse in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. The couple also share a daughter, Elsie, who was born in September 2016 and was mostly kept away from public attention, despite occasional light-hearted mentions on the show.
Split
Lucy Beaumont and Jon Richardson annouced their split in 2024(Image: Joe Maher/Getty Images)
Jon and Lucy shared a joint social media statement announcing their divorce on 12 April 2024. Their message 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. Jon Richardson and Lucy Beaumont.”
Later on, Lucy told Ok! that she will not be elaborating on why her marriage came to an end. She told the publication: “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
The actor joined Waterloo Road in 2025(Image: SCU/AFU)
In April 2025, Jon left his fans on social media stunned when he announced that he would be quitting his comedy career to become a teacher.
He told fans: “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.”
The star then shared that he had already accepted a teaching job, revealing: “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. I’ll keep you posted.”
But it was later revealed that Jon had tricked fans and was in fact joining BBC’s hit school drama, Waterloo Road. The comedian made his first appearance in September 2025.
Yorkshire pub
The star took on a new journey(Image: Welcome to Yorkshire)
Earlier this year, Jon took on a new venture as he tries to revive a Yorkshire Pub in his series, Our Yorkshire Pub Rescue.
The More4 observational series follows Jon as he joins Fadmoor Community Pub Limited as a shareholder and works alongside locals to bring the historic pub, which dates back to 1782, back to life.
Throughout the project, Jon immerses himself in the close-knit rural community, lending a hand with the demanding renovation work while helping tackle the many obstacles involved in reopening The Plough.
Although the pub has yet to officially reopen, the sense of community is already thriving. Jon takes part in fundraising events, supports the project’s eco-friendly ambitions, and celebrates the local food and drink available around the scenic North York Moors.
Talking about the show and his new venture, he said: “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 tonight on ITV1 at 5:55pm