Richard Wilson

One of Britain’s most established actors, Richard Wilson is the star of the hilarious sitcom, One Foot in the Grave. The actor has been in the entertainment business for over 50 years wowing audiences on the likes of Camelot, Merlin, Doctor Who and more. Throughout his life, Richard has been a staunch campaigner for gay rights and equality and is frequently found at charity events supporting such causes, including for the LGBT charity Stonewall. As well as this he is a hugely popular LGBT speaker and at all his events can discuss the importance of equality in society.

At events, Richard discusses his journey as a gay actor, including being outed by a publication and later advocating for LGBTQ+ equality. Having witnessed the evolution of acceptance for the community over the decades, he often reflects on the progress made and the actions still needed to achieve an equal society. Regarding representation in the media, Richard can reveal the importance of diverse onscreen actors from many different backgrounds, to relate to an equally diverse audience.

By 1990 Richard had established himself as one of Britain’s most esteemed actors but his best was yet to come. Originally, he rejected the role of Victor Meldrew, the protagonist in the new sitcom One Foot in the Grave, as he thought he was too old for the role but was convinced to take it. It turned out to be the best thing he ever did with the show running for a decade and becoming one of the greatest comedies of all-time. Throughout the show’s duration, it won countless awards including a BAFTA for Best Comedy in 1992, with much of its success down to Richard’s excellent performances.

Born in Scotland, Richard initially worked as a research assistant at a hospital in Glasgow before switching to acting aged 27. His first TV appearance came in the 1970s on the long-standing courtroom drama Crown Court. As his fame grew and the years passed Richard was determined to keep his private life to himself. But in 2013 Time Out magazine named him as one of the country’s most influential gay people and thus outed him. At his LGBT+ speaking events, he can discuss how it felt to be outed in this way and how he has coped with it since.

Now, Richard continues to act and has had high-profile roles in the likes of Camelot, Doctor Who and Merlin. Alongside his acting, he can regularly be found at charity and activism events fighting for equality for the LGBT+ community. An articulate, sensitive and thoughtful LGBT speaker, Richard Wilson is a wonderful choice for any event.