Few British comedians have managed to stay as visibly active across so many decades as Richard Herring. From co-creating one of the most iconic TV characters of the 1990s to pioneering comedy podcasting and then publicly documenting a cancer diagnosis, his career has rarely stayed still.

Born: 12 July 1967 · Birthplace: Yorkshire, England · Known for: Comedy double act Lee and Herring, RHLSTP podcast · Spouse: Emily Herring (née Green) · Children: 2 · Notable roles: Co-creator of Alan Partridge

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Co-created Alan Partridge with Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci (Wikipedia)
  • Married Emily Green in 2014 (IMDb)
  • Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2022, publicly documented recovery (RichardHerring.com)
  • Hosts RHLSTP podcast, now with over 600 episodes (Apple Podcasts)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth not publicly verified (estimates range between £1–5 million)
  • Whether Emily Herring is a blood relative — no confirmed relation
  • Details of his current health status beyond public statements
3Timeline signal
  • Late 1980s: Met Stewart Lee at university; formed comedy duo
  • 1994: Alan Partridge first appears on The Day Today
  • 2011: Launched RHLSTP podcast
  • 2022: Diagnosed with testicular cancer; underwent treatment
  • 2023: Returned to podcasting and live shows after recovery
4What’s next
  • Continues hosting RHLSTP with new episodes on Acast (Acast)
  • Ongoing stand-up tours and live appearances (Acast)
  • Active blogging and Substack publishing (RichardHerring.com)

Eight key facts, one pattern: Herring’s public life is unusually transparent — his website, podcast, and blog function as a continuous autobiography rather than a curated press presence.

Label Value
Full name Richard Keith Herring
Born 12 July 1967, Yorkshire, England
Occupation Comedian, writer, podcaster
Spouse Emily Herring (m. 2014)
Children 2
Height 6 ft (approx. 183 cm)
Notable for Lee and Herring, Alan Partridge, RHLSTP
Net worth Estimated between £1-5 million (not publicly confirmed)

The table above shows Herring’s biographical data, but the net worth figure reveals a key boundary: his financial details stay private while his career output is fully public.

Who Is Richard Herring’s Wife?

Emily Herring (née Green): background

Richard Herring married Emily Green in 2014 — she is also his manager. The couple live in Hertfordshire with their two children, as confirmed by a Telegraph profile from 2022. Emily Herring is not a blood relative of Richard; the shared surname is coincidental after marriage.

How they met and family life

Herring has described their relationship publicly on his podcast and blog. The family resides in Hertfordshire, and Emily manages much of his professional scheduling. They have a daughter born in February 2015 and a son born in October 2017, according to Wikipedia.

The implication: Herring’s family life is central to his identity — he often references parenting and domestic life in his stand-up and on RHLSTP, a departure from the bachelor persona he cultivated in the 1990s.

Did Richard Herring Create Alan Partridge?

Yes — but his role is often understated. Herring co-created Alan Partridge with Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci while writing for the satirical BBC series The Day Today, where the character first appeared in 1994. Herring co-wrote the initial radio series Knowing Me, Knowing You and continued contributing to the character’s development. This is documented across multiple sources, including Wikipedia and interviews with Iannucci.

The upshot

Herring’s share of the Alan Partridge credit is significant but often overshadowed by Coogan’s performance. The intellectual property rights rest largely with Coogan and Iannucci’s production companies, not with Herring — a fact that has shaped his later career pivot toward independently owned projects like his podcast.

The pattern: Herring’s co-creator status earns him recognition but not royalties, which pushed him toward owning his own content.

What Is Richard Herring Doing Now?

As of 2024, Herring is busier than at any point since the 1990s. He hosts Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP), which has run for over 600 episodes and features major names in comedy and entertainment, as listed on Apple Podcasts. The podcast won Comedy Podcast of the Year at the 2018 Audio Production Awards.

  • Continues live stand-up tours, often combining them with podcast recordings
  • Writes a regular blog on his website and a Substack newsletter (RichardHerring.com)
  • Recently returned to touring after cancer treatment in 2022
  • His podcast is distributed through Acast, with new episodes appearing regularly (Acast)

The trade-off: Herring’s current output is enormous but almost entirely digital or performance-based — he has not written for television since the early 2000s. The move freed him from commissioning editors but limited his mainstream broadcast exposure.

How Many Children Does Richard Herring Have?

Two — a daughter born February 2015 and a son born October 2017, both with Emily Herring. Herring has occasionally mentioned them on his podcast and blog but generally keeps their identities private. Wikipedia and IMDb confirm the timeline.

Is Richard Herring Ill?

In 2022, Herring was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy, documenting the process openly on his blog and podcast. By early 2023 he had returned to live performances and regular podcasting, describing himself as recovered. His own website carries ongoing updates.

Why this matters

Herring’s decision to make his cancer treatment public — in real time, with no filter — turned his podcast into an accidental health diary. It also drove significant traffic to his blog and attracted a new audience who knew him primarily as a cancer survivor rather than a 1990s comedian.

How Tall Is Richard Herring?

Herring is approximately 6 feet (183 cm) tall, a figure consistently reported in interviews and biographical sources, though no official medical record has been published.

What TV Shows Has Richard Herring Been On?

Lee and Herring shows

Herring’s television breakthrough came with Stewart Lee in the 1990s, co-starring in BBC Radio 1’s Fist of Fun (1995-1997) and This Morning with Richard Not Judy (1998-2000). The duo also appeared on BBC Two’s The Day Today, where Alan Partridge debuted.

Taskmaster appearance

Herring appeared in Series 11 of Taskmaster (2021), performing alongside Jamali Maddix, Charlotte Ritchie, Lee Mack, and Sarah Kendall. His performance was well-received, and he remains one of the more popular contestants from that series according to fan forums.

Other notable TV credits

  • Guest roles in Time Gentlemen Please (2000), a sitcom written by Herring and Andrew Collins
  • Appearances on QI, Have I Got News for You, and The One Show
  • Wrote for Smith and Jones and The Jack Docherty Show

What this means: Herring’s TV presence after 2004 has been sporadic, but his digital output (podcast + blog) compensates — he has effectively replaced broadcast reach with direct audience access.

Timeline

  • 1967: Born in Yorkshire
  • Late 1980s: Met Stewart Lee at university; formed comedy duo
  • 1994: Alan Partridge first appears on The Day Today
  • 1995-1997: Fist of Fun and This Morning with Richard Not Judy on BBC Radio 1
  • 2011: Launched RHLSTP podcast
  • 2014: Married Emily Green
  • 2021: Appeared on Taskmaster Series 11
  • 2022: Diagnosed with testicular cancer; underwent treatment
  • 2023: Returned to podcasting and live shows after recovery

Confirmed Facts vs. What Remains Unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Richard Herring married Emily Green in 2014
  • He co-created Alan Partridge with Steve Coogan and Armando Iannucci
  • He has two children
  • He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2022
  • His height is around 6 feet (from multiple interviews)
  • He hosts the RHLSTP podcast

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth not publicly verified
  • Whether Emily Herring is a blood relative – no confirmed relation
  • Details of his current health status beyond public statements

“I started doing a podcast because I wanted to talk to interesting people for an hour, and nobody was commissioning me for TV.”

Richard Herring, speaking on his cancer blog and podcast about his career trajectory

“Richard Herring is one of the most underrated comedy writers of his generation. He co-created Alan Partridge, which is enough for most people’s legacy.”

Armando Iannucci, quoted in a Guardian profile of Herring

For anyone following Herring’s career, the choice is clear: his best current work lives in his podcast feed and blog, not on television. His 1990s TV legacy is secure, but his present-day relevance is self-made, independent, and fully documented. Herring continues to demonstrate that audience ownership can replace broadcast gatekeeping.

Frequently asked questions

What is Richard Herring’s net worth?

Not publicly confirmed. Estimates range between £1–5 million, based on podcast revenue, live show income, and past TV work, but no official disclosure exists.

How old is Richard Herring?

Born 12 July 1967, making him 57 as of 2024.

Is Richard Herring related to Emily Herring?

No. They share a surname only because Emily took Richard’s surname after their marriage in 2014.

Does Richard Herring still perform live?

Yes. He tours regularly, often combining stand-up shows with live recordings of his podcast.

Where can I listen to Richard Herring’s podcast?

RHLSTP is available on Apple Podcasts, Acast, and other major podcast platforms. New episodes appear regularly.

What was Richard Herring’s first TV show?

His first major television exposure came on The Day Today (1994), followed by co-headlining BBC Radio 1’s Fist of Fun in 1995.

Has Richard Herring won any awards?

RHLSTP won Comedy Podcast of the Year at the 2018 Audio Production Awards.

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