Speaking & Hosting

When not addressing his congregation from the pulpit, Reverend Richard Coles is in frequent demand on the conference and after dinner speaking circuit.

AFTER DINNER • CONFERENCE/KEYNOTE • AWARDS HOST

After Dinner Speaking

“From Pop Star To Parson”

Having addressed audiences as diverse as local Government Ministers in Marlow and world-renown practitioners of the British Medical Association, to international travel agents in Abu Dhabi and an association of car fleet managers, The Reverend Richard Coles has refined a highly original, humorous and captivating after-dinner speech that will appeal to all audiences.

There aren’t many Church of England priests that can claim to have had a British Number 1 hit single… in fact, to date, Richard Coles is the one and only; as part of the highly successful pop duo the Communards.

In his popular after-dinner speech, From Pop Star To Parson, Richard tells a story as real as it is unlikely.

He connects the euphoria and mayhem of being ‘Top of The Pops’ in the 80s — which resonates with audiences of that era — to his more recent circumstances as Church of England priest, radio broadcaster, television presenter and best-selling author — which resonates with all sorts of people — and enables him to reach a wide audience, answering amongst many burning questions, “How do you go from pop star to priest? And why?”

Other popular after-dinner speeches include the Life of a Thoroughly Modern Parson and, since his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, Adventures and Misadventures in Dance.

After Dinner Speaking Clips

Conference & Keynote Speaker

As a high-profile gay priest, Richard Coles is increasingly asked to address audiences around the themes of LGBTQ+, Diversity and Inclusion. He also has a particular interest in housing and building communities — he is the Patron and former board member of Greatwell Homes housing association – and has spoken to several national conferences on this theme.

Richard is also frequently asked to speak on other appropriate, but perhaps less obvious speech themes, including Trust and Ethics, to which he can bring a unique and interesting perspective as a member of the clergy.

He recently spoke to a group of 200 AXA insurance brokers on trust, to which the client commented afterwards; “We were delighted with Richard Coles’ presentation, it was amusing, well delivered and appropriate for the day. We also appreciated the efforts he made to network with our guests before his presentation”.

Award Ceremony Host & Presenter

In addition to after-dinner speaking and keynote speaking, the Reverend Richard Coles is hugely popular and in-demand as a host or presenter for award ceremonies.

From Third Sector awards for charities to the likes of the British Parking Awards; British Damage Management Association Awards; British Medical Association Research Grant Awards Dinner; Association of Car Fleet Operators; IT Service Management Forum Awards; Ophthalmology Awards; Investor Relations Society Best Practice Awards; The Metal Packaging Manufacturers Awards; Supersavers Bestseller Awards; Test Valley Business Awards & Dinner; Croydon College Awards and Planning Awards to name but an eclectic few.

“The Reverend Richard Coles was absolutely brilliant!”
The Chief Fire Officers Association

“An absolutely fantastic host, and our colleagues loved having him host our awards”
Home Group Housing

“His speech was funny, witty and poignant in parts which was spot on”
Association of Investment Companies

“Thank you for your inspiring words and good humour”
Chief Executive, St John Ambulance

Book Richard

To book Richard to speak at your event or host your awards dinner contact NMP live or email speaking@richardcoles.com

Richard talking on stage. Wearing a bow tie

Client Testimonials

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP

“What an event, what a speaker. We knew how fabulous it was having attended but the amount of emails of joy and gratitude we have received is overwhelming. Thank you, thank you.”

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP

Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association

“The Rev Richard Coles was brilliant, a lovely man and his speech was interesting and entertaining, witty and humorous. He was also really good afterwards talking to and having pictures with many of the audience.”

Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association

British Medical Association

“I have had lots of positive feedback about Reverend Richard Coles from our guests. They commented on how usually speakers have a set 5 minutes about their background, another 10 on their current work and then may be 5 minutes with a tenuous link to the cause of the night, but with Richard he had clearly put much thought into what he was going to say and he threaded in the link between medicine and religion extremely well.”

British Medical Association

M&G Investments

“On behalf of the M&G Pride Committee, I would like to express our thanks and appreciation both to Reverend Richard Coles and NMP Live for a fantastic anniversary event. We really enjoyed the evening, Richard’s talk, and the really great conversation with everyone.”

M&G Investments

Rotary International

“Reverend Richard Coles, as you would expect, produced an excellent start to our morning session at conference and it quickly became apparent how popular his BBC radio programme is amongst our delegates. His friendly, matter of fact approach was appreciated by everyone. It was a pleasure to host him and I would appreciate your conveying to him my best wishes.”

Rotary International

AXA Corporate Solutions Assurance

“We were delighted with Richard Coles’ presentation, it was amusing, well delivered and appropriate for the day. We also appreciated the efforts he made to network with our guests before his presentation.”

AXA Corporate Solutions Assurance

Lloyd’s List

“He didn’t just read a script, he delivered what we asked for and more – an event manager’s dream”.

Lloyd’s List

Independent Schools’ Bursars Association

“May I simply say an enormous thank you for taking the time to come and speak to us at our conference dinner in the Celtic Manor Resort. We certainly appreciated your most amusing speech, which undoubtedly contributed to an outstanding dinner for our members and guests. Your after-dinner speech undoubtedly helped contribute to this.”

Independent Schools’ Bursars Association

Berkhamsted Schools Group

We were absolutely delighted to welcome Richard Coles to Centenary Theatre, Berkhamsted School for what was a truly memorable evening. Richard spoke to a capacity community audience about his journey so far, and what a rich tapestry of a journey that has been. He will always be welcome in Berkhamsted.

Berkhamsted Schools Group

Association of Investment Companies

I just wanted to drop you a brief note to pass on our thanks, and my thanks personally, to Richard for being our guest speaker in Edinburgh last Thursday. He was superb and I have had lots of positive comments from others who were there.

Association of Investment Companies

Home Group Housing

“I just wanted to pass on our hugest thank you to Reverend Richard Coles. He was an absolutely fantastic host, and our colleagues loved having him host our awards. Everyone has commented on how warm, funny and friendly he was, and he was happy to spend time chatting to people who were delighted he took the time to listen, ask their names and generally just be lovely.”

Home Group Housing

Informa

“Reverend Coles was a pleasure to work with, he was an event managers dream. He rehearsed as requested. Delivered what we asked for and more. It was great to have a host who didn’t just read from the script. He added in a number of funny one liners which related to the audience.”

Informa

The Chief Fire Officers Association

“After dinner speaker, the Reverend Richard Coles was absolutely brilliant! We had a really good evening, he was really well received by the audience but ahead of that, he mixed with us all before dinner and weaved in things he had clearly picked up from conversation into his speech which was just. He absolutely made the evening.”

The Chief Fire Officers Association

British Security Industry Association

“The BSIA usually invites a politician, journalist or someone from the security industry to deliver the keynote speech at the industry’s leading awards ceremony however this year we decided to go left-of-field and wow did we make the right choice!”

British Security Industry Association

Chief Executive, St John Ambulance

“Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your expert hosting at this year’s Everyday Heroes. We have received wonderful feedback about the evening which is thanks, in no small part, to the role you played on stage that night… We hope you were also able to enjoy the evening celebrating all our incredible winners and nominees – thank you for helping to ensure everything ran so smoothly, for your inspiring words and good humour.”

Chief Executive, St John Ambulance

Museums and Heritage Awards 2018

“It was an absolute pleasure working with Richard – he managed to strike just the right note with our audience and if the number of selfie requests was anything to go by, he was our most popular host to date!”

Museums and Heritage Awards 2018

The Arts Club, Mayfair

“Thank you so much for all your help and involvement in last night’s talk. Reverend Richard Coles was absolutely brilliant and with Cerys [Matthews] interviewing him it was a perfect fit. Everyone was engrossed with his brilliant and often very humorous stories, just such a charming man to listen to with a fascinating story. We have received such lovely feedback from both members who attended and staff.”

The Arts Club, Mayfair