Anna Caroline Ryder Richardson(born 29 January 1964) is a British interior designer and television presenter. She is known for being a designer on the BBC showsChanging Roomsand the subject ofChaos at the Zoo,which documents her ownership ofManor House Wildlife Parkin Pembrokeshire. She also appeared on CBBC showHider in the Housealongside Cameron Biswas.
Anna Ryder Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anna Caroline Ryder Richardson 29 January 1964 |
| Known for | Interior design,wildlife conservationandtelevision presenting |
| Spouse |
Colin MacDougall
(m.2005, separated) |
| Children | 2 |
Personal life
editAnna Ryder Richardson was born in Swansea[citation needed]in 1964. Her father was aMalaysianstudent, and her mother English.[citation needed]At six weeks of age, she was adopted by Colin and Jill Ryder Richardson, and raised in Surrey with her adopted sister Sarah. Her adoptive father was aWorld War II evacueewho survived the sinking of theSSCity of Benaresby a German U-boat; he spent his career as aLloyd's underwriter.[1]She was introduced to her partner, restaurateur Colin MacDougall, byGregg Wallaceat his restaurant on New Year's Eve 2000, and they married at a private ceremony in theCanadian Rockies.[2]Their first child, Bean, was born prematurely and died less than 60 minutes after birth.[3]
Interior design
editAfter an early career in modelling, Ryder Richardson became a fitness instructor. She managed children's interior shop Squidgy Things, where she started designing and decorating children's bedrooms; this work launched her career as an interior designer. She describes her own style as evolving, but "[preferring] the bolder colours". She citesKelly Hoppenamong her influences.
Her breakthrough moment was on a design segment onGMTVin 1996, after whichAinsley Harriottintroduced her to the producers of short-lived documentary showChange That.[3]She was cast as one of the interior designers onChanging Roomswhere she sprang to fame for her bold interior design choices. She worked on a number of smaller shows, includingHouse Invaders,Staying PutandTrading Spaces.None of these had the same mainstream success asChanging Rooms,and in 2006, reconsidered the direction of her career.
In 2017, it was announced that she would return to interior design, appearing as a designer onPeter Andre's60 Minute Makeover.[4]
Wildlife park
editRyder Richardson appeared in a string of reality TV shows to fund a lifetime ambition of owning a zoo. She appeared on the BBCSport ReliefeventOnly Fools on Horses,and the 2007 series ofI'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!(where she was the sixth person to leave). She said she was "unprepared" for these experiences and described her experiences as "unpleasant", but that she developed a good relationship with co-starChristopher Biggins.[3]She would later team up with Biggins on a Celebrity Version of the ITV showWho wants to be a Millionaire?,where they shared a £50,000 prize for their chosen charities.
In 2008, she purchasedManor House Wildlife Parkin Pembrokeshire for £1 million.[5]Her experiences at the zoo have been the subject of a number of television series, includingChaos at the Zoo,[6]Anna's Welsh Zoo[7]andWild Welsh Zoo.[8]She was charged for health and safety violations in 2012, after a mother and son were injured by a falling tree, but acquitted after her husband admitted that work fell under his remit.[5]
In 2015, she set up a charity called 'The Nature Foundation' to transport neglected lionesses from an abandoned zoo inGyumritoPeak Wildlife Park.She successfully raised £25,000 to transport the animals, but the high-profile nature of the campaign ensured that locals provided adequate facilities for the lionesses in their nativeArmenia.The funds instead went to breeding facilities for the endangeredSumatran Tiger.[9]As of 2020, she still owns the park.[10]
References
edit- ^"Colin Ryder Richardson (Obituary)".The Telegraph.13 February 2013.Retrieved17 September2018.
- ^"TV star marries in secret".Manchester Evening News.30 June 2005.Retrieved17 September2018.
- ^abcPadman, Tony (5 September 2015)."Where are they now…? Anna Ryder Richardson".The Express.Retrieved17 September2018.
- ^Olivia Heath (30 November 2017)."Changing Rooms stars Linda Barker and Anna Ryder Richardson reunite for Peter Andre's 60 Minute Makeover".House Beautiful.
- ^ab"Anna Ryder Richardson cleared of accident at family zoo after husband pleads guilty".The Telegraph.2 November 2012.Retrieved17 September2018.
- ^"Chaos at the Zoo".Crackit Productions. Archived fromthe originalon 17 September 2018.Retrieved17 September2018.
- ^"Anna's Welsh Zoo".Tenby Today.20 August 2010.Retrieved17 September2018.
- ^"Wild Welsh Zoo".BBC.
- ^"The Nature Foundation, Report and Financial Statements"(PDF).
- ^"The truth about Anna Ryder-Richardson, her Welsh zoo and the future".Wales Online.22 August 2020.