Anna Richardson

Anna Clare Richardson is an English television personality, writer, and journalist. She emerged as a prominent figure in the television landscape, notably for her engaging presentations on Channel 4.

Richardson was born in raised in a family deeply rooted in education and spirituality and is the daughter of James Richardson (a vicar from Great Brington, Northamptonshire), and Janet (a dedicated religious education teacher). Her formative years were spent at The School of St Mary and St Anne, an Anglican girls’ independent boarding school in Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire.

Anna embarked on her television career on Channel 4’s iconic morning show, The Big Breakfast (1992-2002). This paved the way for her to grace various television programs over the years, showcasing her versatile talent. She garnered acclaim for her role in Love Bites on ITV, earning a nomination for an RTS award, and went on to captivate audiences with shows like Love Bites Back, Dream Ticket, and Des Res.

As her career progressed, Anna ventured into writing and producing as well and has presented various television shows for Channel 4, including Supersize vs Superskinny (2008–2009), The Sex Education Show (2008–2011), Secret Eaters (2012–2014), Supershoppers (2016–2019), Naked Attraction (2016–present) and Changing Rooms (2021–present).

Anna’s dedication to informative and engaging television led her to become the face of several groundbreaking Channel 4 series. She tackled societal taboos as the presenter of The Sex Education Show, exploring various aspects of human sexuality and relationships.

In addition to her hosting duties, Anna has ventured into documentary filmmaking, notably with her work on Thomas Cook: The Rise and Fall of Britain’s Oldest Travel Agent (2019), delving into the collapse of the renowned travel company.

Anna’s recent endeavors include hosting How to Save a Grand in 24 Hours (2021-), showcasing practical money-saving tips, and the highly anticipated reboot of Changing Rooms (2021-2022).

Richardson describes her sexuality as fluid. In a candid 2015 interview with The Daily Telegraph, she shared:

For me, it’s just a case of “I am who I am”. I’m not interested in being labelled gay or straight; my sexuality is fluid. I’m just me. I just happen to have fallen in love with a woman, simple as that.

Prior to this, Richardson had been in an 18-year relationship with TV producer Charles Martin. She later dated comedian Sue Perkins from 2014, with the couple “amicably splitting” in 2021.