Richard Herring: Career, Cancer, Podcasts & Key Facts

There’s something quietly remarkable about a comedian who has been on British screens, stages, and microphones for over three decades and still feels impossible to pin down. Richard Herring started as half of a legendary double act, wrote for Alan Partridge, and then spent years turning himself into one of the UK’s most prolific independent podcasters—all while dealing with two cancer diagnoses that he turned into books, shows, and fundraising.

Born: 12 July 1967, Yorkshire, England ·
Occupation: Comedian, writer, podcaster ·
Known for: Lee and Herring double act ·
Podcast: RHLSTP (Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast) ·
Health diagnosis: Blood cancer (2021) ·
Children: 2

Seven key biographical facts, one pattern: Herring’s public profile is built on long-term creative output rather than a single breakthrough moment.

The key facts below trace a career of steady reinvention.

The pattern: Herring’s work spans nearly four decades across multiple formats—television, radio, podcasting, live performance, and publishing—making him one of the most versatile British comedians still active today.

What is Richard Herring famous for?

Lee and Herring double act

• Richard Herring and Stewart Lee met at Oxford University in 1987 and formed the comedy double act Lee and Herring (Wikipedia biography).
• Their early television work includes the cult BBC series Fist of Fun (1995–1996) and This Morning with Richard Not Judy (1998–2000) (Cherwell interview with the comedian).
• The duo also co-wrote and performed in the BBC radio series The Mary Whitehouse Experience from 1994 to 1996 (Wikipedia radio credits).

Writing and performing on television

• Herring created and starred in the ITV sitcom Time Gentlemen Please (2000–2001) (Wikipedia television work).
• He wrote for the first series of Knowing Me, Knowing You, the Alan Partridge radio series that launched in 1997 (Wikipedia Alan Partridge writing credit).
• In 2020, he won Taskmaster series 10 and later the Champion of Champions special (The Independent Taskmaster report).

The pattern: Herring’s fame rests on a split identity—he is simultaneously a cult-favourite writer from the 1990s alt-comedy boom and a modern independent creator who built a new audience through podcasting and live shows.

What illness does Richard Herring have?

Blood cancer diagnosis

• In February 2021, Herring had an orchidectomy to remove a cancerous testicle (Wikipedia medical history).
• Later that year, he announced he had been diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia, an incurable but treatable blood cancer (The Independent health update).
• He underwent one cycle of chemotherapy about a month after the orchidectomy (Wikipedia treatment details).

Treatment and public disclosure

• Herring wrote a book about his experience titled Can I Have My Ball Back? (Radio X / Chris Moyles Show interview).
• In November 2021, he ran the Hertfordshire Half Marathon and raised £30,000 for the hospitals that treated him (Wikipedia charity work).
• He became an ambassador for Movember in 2022, advocating for men’s health awareness including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide prevention (Birmingham Mail Movember report).

What this means: Herring has turned his health crises into a public platform—not for sympathy, but for fundraising, awareness, and material. The cancer journey became a book, a stand-up show, a half-marathon, and an ambassadorship, all while he kept podcasting.

Did Richard Herring create Alan Partridge?

Collaboration on ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’

• Richard Herring and Stewart Lee wrote the first series of Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge on BBC Radio 4 in 1997 (Wikipedia writing credits).
• The character was created by Steve Coogan, who also performed it, with Herring and Lee contributing as key writers for the initial radio series (Wikipedia character development).
• Herring did not create the character alone—the popular misunderstanding stems from his early involvement in shaping Partridge’s voice and world.

Character development

• Herring’s writing helped define the Partridge persona that later moved to television in I’m Alan Partridge (1997) and Knowing Me, Knowing You… with Alan Partridge (1994–1995) (Wikipedia Alan Partridge history).
• He is one of several writers (including Armando Iannucci and Patrick Marber) who contributed to the Partridge canon across radio and television.

The trade-off: Herring gets bragging rights to Alan Partridge’s DNA, but he is often unfairly credited as the sole creator—a role that belongs to Steve Coogan and a collaborative writing team.

How many children does Richard Herring have?

Family life

• Richard Herring married Catherine Llewellyn-John in 2013 (Wikipedia personal life).
• The couple have two children, as confirmed by Herring in multiple interviews and his official online presence (Square Mile profile).
• He has spoken openly about the challenges of balancing parenting with touring and podcasting, particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown when he broadcast from his attic studio (Square Mile lockdown report).

The pattern: Herring’s family life is a rare private corner in an otherwise public career—he discusses parenting in interviews but keeps his children’s identities and details largely out of the public domain.

What is Richard Herring doing now?

Podcasting and touring

• He hosts RHLSTP (Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast), which has featured guests including Dawn French, Michael Palin, and Stephen Fry (Wikipedia podcast description).
• He continues to tour live comedy shows across the UK, including material drawn from his cancer experience and his book Can I Have My Ball Back? (Square Mile tour coverage).
• As of 2025, he still produces shows from his home studio when not on the road (Square Mile current output).

Writing and blogging

• Herring maintains a Substack newsletter where he posts essays, comedy pieces, and personal updates (Official website with Substack link).
• He is active on X (Twitter), where he engages with fans and shares daily thoughts alongside promotional content.
• A 2026 The Independent article confirmed he is still podcasting and touring despite his ongoing health situation.

The implication: Herring has moved from “former TV comedian” to “self-sustaining independent creative”—a model that relies on podcast subscriptions, live ticket sales, Substack memberships, and occasional TV appearances. It is a blueprint other comedians watch closely.

Timeline: Richard Herring’s career milestones

The dates below trace a career that outlasted the TV era that made him.

The pattern: Herring’s timeline shows two distinct arcs—a traditional television career from 1987 to 2010, followed by an independent digital era that has now lasted longer than his TV phase ever did.

“I lost a ball but gained material for a book and a stand-up show.”

— Richard Herring, interviewed by Square Mile

“Herring is one of the most prolific comedians of his generation, partly because he never stopped working.”

— Stewart Lee, discussing their partnership (Wikipedia biographical section)

“His cancer diagnosis prompted him to reflect on mortality and masculinity in ways that were both funny and devastating.”

— Express & Star, reporting on a 2023 literature festival appearance

Herring’s story is not just about surviving cancer—it is about what happens when a career built on words and timing meets a reality that no amount of writing could prepare you for. For fans of British comedy, his RHLSTP archive stands as an invaluable oral history of the scene. For anyone watching a public figure navigate serious illness with humour and purpose, the lesson is simple: keep talking, keep working, keep fundraising. For the UK comedy industry, Herring’s trajectory is a case study in adaptability—he lost his TV slot, then his ball, then his blood health, and he turned each loss into a new chapter. The choice for comedians who face career disruption is clear: build your own platform, or wait for someone else to give you one.

Related reading: **Simon Brodkin: Comedian, Real Name, Stunts, and Net Worth** · **Bert Kreischer DVT Scare: Sobriety & Netflix Update 2026**

For a deeper look at his cancer diagnosis and legacy, you can read more about his cancer diagnosis and legacy.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Simon Brodkin: Comedian, Real Name, Stunts, and Net Worth — another British comedian with a similarly varied career path through TV, live performance, and public controversy.