A chinwag with Rev Richard Coles

About this episode

Rev Richard Coles joins the hosts for a wide-ranging conversation covering children's books, pop stardom, and personal reflections on growing up gay.

This week’s special guest is the brilliant Richard Coles, joining the lads for a wide-ranging chat that somehow manages to cover children’s books, pop stardom, religion, reality TV, school life, funeral disasters and losing a speedboat in Ibiza. Richard talks about releasing his very first children’s book - https://amzn.to/3S51Q6j after already writing more than a dozen books for adults. He explains why he wanted to write stories about people whose adventures go spectacularly wrong, and why getting children hooked on reading feels more important than ever in a world battling for their attention. There’s a brilliant conversation about school visits, children’s honesty and the way young people see the world. Richard reflects on how empathetic and accepting children are today, while also sharing some hilarious moments from his recent school tour, including an unforgettable question about “having the nerve” to stand up and speak in front of people. The lads then head right back to the 1980s as Richard opens up about life in The Communards, having the biggest selling single of 1986 and the surreal experience of going from signing on at the dole office to flying on Concorde and dining…

People in this episode

Host: Two Mr Ps

Guest: Rev Richard Coles

Topics covered

• children's literature
• pop stardom
• religion
• school life
• growing up gay
• 1980s music
• reading engagement

Keywords

• children's books
• pop music
• The Communards
• school visits
• reading
• 1980s
• gay identity
• empathy in children

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Communards

Products: children’s book

Places: Ibiza, New York

More episodes of Two Mr Ps in a Pod(Cast)

• LO: To know students will stick anything in places they shouldn't stick things. · June 12, 2026 · 1h 9m
• LO: To Try Your Best To Not Crack A Smile When Telling A Student Off · May 21, 2026 · 1h 1m
• LO - To know who's job it is to wipe the bums around here! · May 14, 2026 · 1h 5m
• LO - To know a jail isn't a 3D Shape · May 6, 2026 · 58 min
• LO: If you're going to brag, make sure it is believable · April 28, 2026 · 56 min
• LO: To not announce you're a teacher at a swingers club · April 21, 2026 · 1h 3m