Richard Merkell married Patsy Palmer in 2000 after working as a London cab driver, and the two now live in Malibu, having left the UK back in 2014.
- Drove a cab in London before he ever became “Patsy Palmer’s husband” in the papers
- He and Patsy were mates for 14 years first; romance came later
- Married in 2000, three kids came out of it: Fenton, Emilia, Bertie
- Swapped Brighton for Malibu in 2014
- Keeps well away from showbiz, always has
- Patsy’s said more than once that he helped her get through addiction in her twenties
Ask most people about Patsy Palmer, and they’ll say Bianca Jackson, straight off. EastEnders made her a household name decades ago, and it stuck. Ask them about her husband though, and you’ll mostly get blank looks. Richard Merkell isn’t a mystery exactly; he’s just never bothered with the spotlight, even after 25-plus years married to one of British soap’s biggest faces.
The Cab Driver Days: Richard Merkell’s Life Before Fame
There isn’t much on record about where Richard Merkell grew up or even his birthday, oddly enough. What’s actually confirmed is fairly thin: he was a London cab driver; that’s how he made his living before Patsy came into the picture. And here’s the bit people often miss – they weren’t some whirlwind romance. Patsy’s talked about it herself in interviews; they knew each other as friends for 14 years before anything romantic happened. MadeForMums covered this timeline in a piece on the family, and it lines up with what Patsy’s said elsewhere too.
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From Wedding Bells to 25 Years Together
They got married in 2000. Not long before that, her first marriage to director Nick Love had already fallen apart; that one only lasted five months. This second marriage, to Richard Merkell, has gone the complete opposite way. It’s been over two decades now, still going, which frankly isn’t something you see often in celebrity relationships. Patsy’s Wikipedia page still lists the marriage as active, and there’s nothing more recent that says otherwise.
What’s maybe more interesting than the wedding date is what Patsy’s said about him privately. She’s credited Richard Merkell with getting her through a genuinely rough patch and back in her twenties. Not in a vague “he was supportive” way either; she’s called him the reason she finally had something like a stable family life.
Richard Merkell’s Kids: Meet the Family
Three kids came from the marriage. Patsy also has a fourth, from before she met Richard, with boxer Alfie Rothwell.
| Child | Born | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charley Palmer Rothwell | 9 February 1992 | From an earlier relationship, now acting; appeared in Dunkirk and Legend |
| Fenton | 13 June 2000 | First child with Richard, now works as a model |
| Emilia | 7 July 2001 | Second child, also works as a model |
| Bertie | 2010 | The youngest child |
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Richard Merkell’s Quiet Life in Malibu, California
Brighton was home for a long while. Then in 2014 they upped and moved to Malibu, California, and that’s still where the family is based. Patsy kept working through it all, DJ sets, the odd trip back to the UK for telly; she even returned to EastEnders for a stretch that ran into 2025, and did a short run on Celebrity Big Brother that same year before getting voted out just before the final. Richard Merkell didn’t come along for any of that press. He wasn’t on Big Brother, wasn’t doing interviews, just carried on as he always has.
Why People Keep Searching for Richard Merkell
Every time Patsy’s back in the news, searches for Richard Merkell tend to spike right alongside her. Makes sense really, when someone gives away almost nothing about themselves, people go looking for whatever scraps they can find. It’s less about him being famous and more about him being the one steady thing in a life that’s otherwise been pretty public.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Richard Merkell famous on his own?
No, he’s never worked in entertainment. He’s known through his marriage to Patsy Palmer, nothing more.
How did Richard Merkell and Patsy Palmer actually meet?
They were friends for 14 years first, according to what Patsy has said in past interviews, before the relationship became romantic.
How many kids do Richard Merkell and Patsy Palmer have together?
Three: Fenton, Emilia, and Bertie. Patsy also has a fourth child, Charley, from an earlier relationship.
Where do Richard Merkell and Patsy Palmer live now?
Malibu, California, since 2014, having relocated from Brighton in the UK.
What did Richard Merkell do for work before the marriage?
He drove a cab in London.
Sources & References
- Wikipedia – Patsy Palmer
- MadeForMums – Patsy Palmer, Richard Merkell and Children: Family Facts
- Wikipedia – Charley Palmer Rothwell
- Heart – Patsy Palmer Facts: Age, Career, Husband, Children and LA Life
- Deadline – Celebrity Big Brother UK 2025 Winner Crowned on ITV1
