Reverend Richard Coles announces death of his sister-in-law Louise after COVID-19 battle

Reverend Richard Coles has announced that his sister-in-law, Louise, has died from COVID-19. 

The former Strictly star, 58, took to Twitter on Wednesday to share the devastating news just four months after losing his partner David. 

Richard posted a picture of Louise and David together in North Africa as he paid tribute to his ‘lovely’ sister-in-law, a former French teacher and Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, Peterborough. 

He wrote: ‘My lovely sister in law @lozaamandine died this afternoon with COVID19. 

‘She made lots of people very happy, not least @RevDavidColes , with whom she went on extravagant and unauthorised expeditions to her beloved North Africa. RIP, darling woman.’ 

Richard’s partner, Reverend David Coles, passed away in December aged 42 after battling illness for more than a year.

Louise, a Conservative councillor for Fletton and Woodston, Peterborough, had been unwell ‘for some time’ with cancer and had caught COVID-19 while shielding from the pandemic. She had been elected onto the council in May 2019.  

Her husband, Andy, also announced her death on his own Twitter account. 

Sharing a photo of the two of them together, he penned: ‘I am very sorry to have to report the death of my wife Louise this afternoon. 

‘She had been unwell for some time with cancer, but caught coronavirus even while shielding. Thankfully we had time to prepare, but this was too soon.’ 

Just weeks earlier, Louise had shared a sweet Mother’s Day surprise from her daughter and brother-in-law while self-isolating.

Posting a picture of a cardboard sign saying ‘happee muvvers dae innit!’ with a heart left on her fence, she had quipped: ‘Yes. It’s lovely having the kids living next door.’

With Louise’s husband adding that they had also been self-isolating after displaying symptoms, he tweeted: ‘They are #selfisolating too as Sam works at the hospital and picked up a bit of a cough and temperature a week ago. 

‘They will be able to go out in a week. We’re going to be doing this for three months minimum. Weird times we live in.’

While Richard also shared the image and wrote: ‘My sister-in-law, self isolating at Peterborough, was not forgotten by her daughter and son in law yesterday.’ 

Louise’s husband Andy also shared Richard’s announcement and added: ‘And don’t forget that weekend ‘house hunting’ in France. 

‘We nearly ended up with two farmhouses and an eighteenth century cider press to share! The naughty step in heaven sounds like the place to be.’

Andy added that he is being comforted by their two pet dogs, Ramsis and Noot, as he shared a photo of them cuddled up to him at their home. 

Richard’s followers sent their support and own tributes to Louise after announcing the news.

Presenter Matthew Wright put: ‘So, so sorry x.’

Radio host Shelagh Fogarty said: ‘So sorry to hear this Richard. My sympathy to you and your family.’

Comedian Jenny Eclair commented: ‘Sending love,strength and sympathy- I’m so sorry.’ 

While author Catherine Mayer noted: ‘I’m so very sorry. To lose someone else right now, especially someone so integral to your shared history with David, is too much to bear. Except that you will…’

To which Richard replied with: ‘Yes, what else are you going to do?’  

In December, Richard announced that his partner David had passed away aged 42 having been ‘ill for a while’.   

Richard, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017,  entered into a civil partnership with David after the Church of England allowed it in 2005 – but they were celibate.

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

Richard wrote at the time: ‘I’m very sorry to say that Rev David Coles has died. He had been ill for a while. Thanks to the brilliant teams who looked after him at Kettering General Hospital. Funeral details to follow’. 

He then quoted Isaiah 60:20: ‘The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended’, but did not reveal the cause of David’s death.

Richard often spoke with love about David and their life together, particularly on his Radio 4 show: Saturday Live. But their dream of retiring to Scotland with their four dogs will now not happen. 

While David was ordained, he was no longer working as a priest, however, the supportive role he has played for his partner has been considered vital for the Rev Coles, his parishioners said.

In his previous life Richard had been the instrumentalist half of the Eighties pop duo The Communards with Jimmy Sommerville, who had a Number One single Don’t Leave Me This Way, and a number of other hits which made him millions.