Ben Richards - Career

Career

Richards began dancing aged seven and later attended the dance college Laine Theatre Arts. Richards later began appearing in a number of productions on London's West End. He appeared in supporting roles in the productions of Radio Times, Up on the Roof, Hot Mikado and Smokey Joe's Cafe. In 1993, he was playing Terry Johnson in Grease, musically directed by Mike Dixon. In 1998 he secured his first lead role playing Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever. He later returned to the West End production of Grease, this time playing the lead character Danny Zuko. Richards made his film debut in the 1997 movie Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis and in 1999 secured a role Julie and the Cadillacs. Guest roles in the BBC television series' Doctors and Holby City. In 2002 he played Jerry in The Full Monty the following year played the Dentist in the Little Shop of Horrors.

In 2004 Richards joined the cast of ITV's Footballers' Wives in the role of Bruno Milligan. He also appeared in the ITV2 spin-off Footballers' Wives: Extra Time. In early 2006 it was announced that Richards had joined the cast of Holby City playing new character Justin Fuller. He remained in the series for four months. Richards then played Sky Masterson in the UK tour of Guys and Dolls in 2006. That year Richards became a judge on the second series of Strictly Dance Fever.

In 2007 he began playing the role of Nate Roberts in police drama The Bill. He also filmed as Nate for an episode of the German series SOKO Leipzig. The character of Nate became popular and producers signed Richards to a new one year contract. However, Richards told Laura Davidson of the Sunday Mail that he still wanted to pursue his career in musical theatre. In 2010, Richards decided to leave the series before it was axed by ITV. He then took over Jason Donovan's role of Tick in the West End production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

In 2011, Richards signed up to appear in a production of Peter Pan playing the role of Captain Hook, which premiered at the Grand Canal Theatre. While interviewed by RTÉ.ie, Richards revealed that he had previously auditioned for roles in Coronation Street but was unsuccessful because of his southern accent.

In March 2012 while battling illness, Richards returned to his home town of Bognor Regis to perform his own show titled An Evening with Ben Richards. The actor told a reporter from the Bognor Regis Observer that the show was a one off to see how it would be received.

In June 2012, it was announced that Richards will be playing the part of Franklin Hart, Jr. in the first UK tour production of the Broadway musical, 9 to 5. The tour will begin at the Manchester Opera House on 12 October 2012.