Jon Richardson, 42, clears up confusion after ‘quitting’ comedy as he lands huge new TV role
Comedian Jon Richardson has fooled fans and fellow comics with an April Fools’ prank claiming he was quitting comedy to become a teacher.
The star of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown posted a video on Instagram on March 31 announcing his career change, which many believed was genuine.
The prank was revealed today when BBC school drama Waterloo Road posted on Instagram welcoming Richardson as “the newest addition to the Waterloo Road teaching staff”.
Richardson will actually be appearing in the popular BBC series rather than leaving comedy behind.
In his Instagram video, Richardson told followers he had been “taking a little bit of a break from stand-up” which “really made me want to carry on taking a break from stand-up”.
The comedian claimed he had rediscovered a diary entry from 1997, written when he was 14, which predicted he would “probably end up being a teacher”.
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“I’ve loved being a comedian, it was absolutely the right choice. But I’ve decided it would’ve been nice to try the other option, so that’s exactly what I’m gonna do,” Richardson said in the video.
His agency even released a statement supporting his supposed career change.
The prank was carefully timed, with Richardson posting his announcement on March 31, just one day before April Fools’ Day.
Waterloo Road’s Instagram post today confirmed the joke, stating: “Dear parents/guardians, You may have heard Jon Richardson is going through a huge career change. We’re pleased to share with you the newest addition to the #WaterlooRoad teaching staff.”
The post was tagged with “#AprilFools” to make the prank explicit, with BBC News later confirming that Richardson will be taking a role in the Rochdale school-based drama.
The prank sparked various reactions from Richardson’s comedian friends. Josh Widdicombe cheekily commented: “Comedy’s loss is teaching’s loss.”
Richardson will appear in Waterloo Road alongside fellow comedian Jason Manford, with both presumably taking on teaching roles in the BBC drama.
The role marks Richardson’s first acting project since his mockumentary series Meet the Richardsons.
Richardson is known for TV shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and his Saturday morning show on Absolute Radio.
The comedian announced his divorce from fellow comedian Lucy Beaumont last April after nine years of marriage.
The pair starred together in their mockumentary series Meet the Richardsons but were forced to quit following their split.
They share an eight-year-old daughter, Elsie, and stated their “only priority is managing this difficult transition” for her.