# Rick Edwards
**Rick Edwards** (Richard Philip Edwards) is an English television presenter, journalist, and author, best known as the co-host of [BBC Radio 5 Live](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-radio-5-live)'s Breakfast show and as the host of the [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) daytime quiz *!mpossible*.[1](https://icdb.tv/stats/11068/Rick-Edwards) • [2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards) He was born in Enfield, north London, in 1979.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/06/rick-edwards-looks-back)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Richard Philip Edwards, born in 1979 in Enfield, London[1](https://icdb.tv/stats/11068/Rick-Edwards) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/06/rick-edwards-looks-back) |
| Education | Studied maths at Pembroke College, Cambridge, for one year before switching to natural sciences[4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) |
| Television breakthrough | 2005, as a presenter on E4 Music; presented Channel 4's T4 for four years[4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) • [2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards) |
| Signature quiz show | Hosted BBC One's *!mpossible* for eight series between 2016 and 2021[2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards) |
| Radio | Co-host of BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast since November 2021, alongside Rachel Burden; presenter of the Saturday panel show *Fighting Talk* since September 2023[2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards) • [4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) |
| Science podcasts and books | Co-host of *Science(ish)* and *Eureka!* with Dr Michael Brooks; co-author of *Science(ish): The Peculiar Science Behind The Movies* (2017) and *Hollywood Wants To Kill You* (2019)[5](https://www.nbc.com/the-courtship/credits/host/rick-edwards) |
| First book | *None of the Above*, on the basics of the UK political process, published during the 2015 general election campaign[4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) • [5](https://www.nbc.com/the-courtship/credits/host/rick-edwards) |
| International work | Host of the NBC and Peacock period dating format *The Courtship* (2022)[2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards) • [6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107148/rick-edwards) |
## Early life and education
Edwards grew up in Enfield, north London, as an only child; his father ran a garage selling tires and doing MOTs.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/06/rick-edwards-looks-back) He has described himself as a school troublemaker who was removed from school before his GCSE years but allowed to sit the exams.[7](https://www.bigissue.com/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/)
At [Pembroke College, Cambridge](https://www.edgepedia.org/pembroke-college-cambridge), he began studying mathematics and switched after a year to natural sciences.[4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) He performed stand-up at the university's comedy club and later on the circuit, often in a double act with [Joe Wilkinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-wilkinson).[8](https://www.the-independent.com/student/career-planning/getting-job/the-real-world-rick-edwards-tv-and-radio-presenter-835626.html) • [4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) At Cambridge he also auditioned for the [Footlights](https://www.edgepedia.org/footlights) comedy club, whose president and vice-president at the time were Richard Ayoade and John Oliver.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/06/rick-edwards-looks-back)
## Entry into television
After graduating, Edwards tutored [Ruby Wax](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruby-wax)'s children in maths and science to pay his rent; on her suggestion he applied for a graduate trainee scheme at Princess Productions, which brought him in as a junior researcher with opportunities for on-screen work.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/06/rick-edwards-looks-back) He had earlier auditioned for T4 at age 21 and reached the final two, with the job going to [Vernon Kay](https://www.edgepedia.org/vernon-kay), before a later screentest for E4 Music succeeded.[9](https://www.cherwell.org/2008/11/23/interview-rick-edwards/)
His television breakthrough came in 2005 as a presenter on E4 Music, after which he moved to [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4)'s Sunday morning magazine show T4, which he presented for four years.[4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) • [2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards) In 2008 he was fronting the weekday morning Channel 4 music show *Freshly Squeezed* alongside [Alexa Chung](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexa-chung) and was also a DJ on Xfm.[8](https://www.the-independent.com/student/career-planning/getting-job/the-real-world-rick-edwards-tv-and-radio-presenter-835626.html) • [10](https://www.theguardian.com/observer-ethical-awards/rick-edwards)
## Entertainment and factual television
**Entertainment credits.** Edwards hosted three series of the E4 reality show *Tool Academy*, presented the *Made in Chelsea* end-of-season shows, and hosted ITV2's comedy roast show *Safeword*.[5](https://www.nbc.com/the-courtship/credits/host/rick-edwards) His best-known entertainment role is *!mpossible*, BBC One's daytime quiz, which he hosted for eight series between 2016 and 2021, plus two Saturday night celebrity series.[2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards)
**Factual and event work.** His factual credits include the Sky History archaeology series *River Hunters*, *Fatberg Autopsy* for Channel 4, [BBC Three](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-three)'s live current-affairs debate show *Free Speech*, Channel 4's *Paralympic Breakfast Show*, and the YouTube Originals series *The Edge Of Science*.[5](https://www.nbc.com/the-courtship/credits/host/rick-edwards) In 2012 he presented Channel 4's coverage of the London Paralympics.[4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) Internationally he hosted *The Courtship* for NBC and Peacock, appearing in 12 episodes of the 2022 series.[2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards) • [6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107148/rick-edwards)
## Radio and sports coverage
Since November 2021 Edwards has co-hosted BBC Radio 5 Live's Breakfast show each weekday morning, usually with Rachel Burden.[2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards) He began presenting the station's sports-based panel show *Fighting Talk* in September 2023.[4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/) He has covered major sporting events including Wimbledon, *The Hundred* on [BBC Two](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-two), two World Cups, and the 2024 Euros, and hosted the F1 podcast *The Inside Track* alongside sports journalist Matt Majendie.[2](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards)
## Science podcasts and books
Edwards presented the podcast *Science(ish)* with Dr Michael Brooks, a science writer, examining the plausible and implausible science in popular films.[5](https://www.nbc.com/the-courtship/credits/host/rick-edwards) • [11](https://www.rivamedia.co.uk/talent/rick-edwards/?portfolioCats=49) The series was turned into the 2017 book *Science(ish): The Peculiar Science Behind The Movies*, a Sunday Times book of the year, and the pair followed it with *Hollywood Wants To Kill You* (2019) and the podcast *Eureka!*.[5](https://www.nbc.com/the-courtship/credits/host/rick-edwards) His first solo book, *None of the Above*, was published during the 2015 general election campaign and explained the basics of the UK political process, building on his TEDx Houses of Parliament talk in 2014 about youth voting.[4](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/)
He has also written as a journalist for *The Observer*, the *Evening Standard*, and Huffington Post, and wrote his original film *Burger Van Champion*, which *The Observer* called a remarkable debut.[11](https://www.rivamedia.co.uk/talent/rick-edwards/?portfolioCats=49)
## Personal life
Edwards is married to the actor [Emer Kenny](https://www.edgepedia.org/emer-kenny), known for *EastEnders* and *Father Brown*; as of 2023 they have a baby boy.[12](https://www.usanetwork.com/usa-insider/the-courtship-narrator-rick-edwards-who-is-he) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/06/rick-edwards-looks-back) His stated interests include the environment, backgammon, football, and cats.[5](https://www.nbc.com/the-courtship/credits/host/rick-edwards)
## References
1. [Rick Edwards - Commentator Profile & Stats, ICDb](https://icdb.tv/stats/11068/Rick-Edwards)
2. [Rick Edwards, Castle Place](https://www.castleplace.com/rick-edwards)
3. [Rick Edwards looks back, The Guardian (6 May 2023)](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/06/rick-edwards-looks-back)
4. [Rick Edwards: 'I played backgammon on the Great Wall of China', Big Issue (24 March 2024)](https://www.bigissue.org.uk/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/)
5. [Rick Edwards: The Courtship host, NBC.com](https://www.nbc.com/the-courtship/credits/host/rick-edwards)
6. [Rick Edwards, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107148/rick-edwards)
7. [Rick Edwards: 'I assumed I'd embrace being famous', Big Issue (24 March 2024)](https://www.bigissue.com/culture/radio/rick-edwards-career-life-famous-politics-china/)
8. [The real world: Rick Edwards TV and radio presenter, The Independent (28 May 2008)](https://www.the-independent.com/student/career-planning/getting-job/the-real-world-rick-edwards-tv-and-radio-presenter-835626.html)
9. [Interview: Rick Edwards, Cherwell (23 November 2008)](https://www.cherwell.org/2008/11/23/interview-rick-edwards/)
10. [Rick Edwards, Observer Ethical Awards 2009, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/observer-ethical-awards/rick-edwards)
11. [Rick Edwards - Presenter, Riva Media](https://www.rivamedia.co.uk/talent/rick-edwards/?portfolioCats=49)
12. [Who Is Rick Edwards, Host And Narrator Of The Courtship?, USA Network](https://www.usanetwork.com/usa-insider/the-courtship-narrator-rick-edwards-who-is-he)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Game show hosts and announcers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license