Strictly star shares heartbreaking news that both dogs died on same day

Strictly Come Dancing star Reverend Richard Coles has shared the devastating news that both his dogs have died.

The sad news comes just months after he revealed that his mum Elizabeth had died.

Former BBC Radio 4 broadcaster and Church of England clergyman Richard, 62, appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 alongside Dianne Buswell.

Sharing a picture of two of his beloved pups on X today, he wrote: ‘Daisy and Pongo, having lived all their long lives together, departed together today.‘

Richard was showered in support from his followers, with @montie writing: ‘Dog. God spelt backwards. They really are our best friends. Sending love Richard x.’

‘Oh this is sad, what a loss for you Richard,’ @arthistorynews said.

‘I’m so sorry Richard. They were beautiful. Prayers and love to you,’ @Huggins2687 wrote.

‘Very sorry – at least they don’t have to be without each other, though you have to be without both,’ @TheProleStar added.

The sad news comes after a difficult few years for Richard, after the death of his partner of 12 years in December.

He wrote on Twitter at the time: ‘I’m very sorry to say that @RevDavidColes has died. He had been ill for a while. Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at @KettGeneral.’

In his 2021 book The Madness of Grief: A Memoir of Love and Loss, Richard explained that David ‘died of drink’ aged 42. 

‘It was really, really tough to see somebody you love destroy himself,’ he said.

‘It is like someone is drowning and you throw them a lifebelt but they are just not taking the lifebelt.

‘And I did try everything I could think of to help him stop drinking, and in fairness to him he did try too, but it was too much for him.’

The couple had lived with Daisy, Pongo, and their other two dogs Audrey and Horatio in the vicarage of St Mary’s in Finedon, Northamptonshire.