Rick Edwards, famous for brightening up the airwaves with his distinctive voice and genuine approach, is in a deeply reflective period. Hosting 5 Live Breakfast, Fighting Talk and The Inside Track podcast, he's as busy as ever. But behind closed doors, there’s a new rhythm to his life, marked by family, emotional upheaval and the never-ending quest to find balance.
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When chatting about his living room, Rick sets the scene with a playful admission—it’s cluttered and the TV is awkwardly positioned. More poignantly, he and his wife, Emer Kenny, left behind a much-loved TV in their previous house as a good-will gesture to the new owners. Now, he admits, that decision was a bit of a regret. Home-life, it seems, is more important than ever.
Before he was on your morning radio dial, Rick had a shot at a very different career.
"I had a deeply ordinary adolescence, but then I got tall, kind of grew into myself, and was scouted for modelling," he reveals.
Despite his success, the world of modelling left him cold:
"I didn’t like it; it didn’t suit me. It was a strange environment."
That youthful jumble of awkwardness and fortuitous transformation still colours his worldview.
Learning to juggle work and family
Rick Edwards isn’t shy about the challenges of managing professional ambition and family time, especially with both partners working in demanding creative fields. He gives a glimpse into the struggle:
"It’s hard to coordinate the schedules so that we’re both present, but there’s something wonderful about being at home during the day. That’s the beauty of the breakfast show—I get afternoons with my family."
No one really prepares you for parenthood, says Rick. Even with his best intentions, he finds his emotional landscape transformed:
"Having a child is like nothing I could have anticipated. It’s overwhelming, it’s thrilling, it’s exhausting. You just do your best every day."
How fatherhood reshapes the professional
Fatherhood isn’t just changing Rick’s weekends and evenings; it’s seeped into his presenting work in unexpected ways. The stories he covers now resonate on a deeper level. He recently confessed to finding it incredibly hard to keep his composure when broadcasting on tragic world events, such as those in Ukraine. One emotional moment stood out:
“Sometimes it’s all too much and you just cry on air. That’s new since having a kid.”
Also, there’s a new understanding when he speaks to parents, knowing firsthand the weight they carry daily. The radio star’s sensitivity, already a strength, has only grown.
Reflections on his own family and learning from the past
Rick Edwards’s relationship with his own father is, by his own description, full of mutual respect and warmth. He continues to seek guidance from him and feels a newfound appreciation for the depth of parental love:
“I never knew how much my parents must have loved me until I became a parent myself. It’s incredibly hard but incredibly rewarding.”
All these moments, from childhood stumbles to awkward model shoots, have given Rick a grounded perspective that seeps into every aspect of his work and parenting.
The emotional impact and community response
Listeners of Rick’s shows have taken note of his honesty and vulnerability. He’s not pretending that morning radio is always neat and tidy—sometimes, it’s deeply emotional. Fans connect with his candour and often share their own stories as parents or as people navigating life’s hurdles, echoing his journey of love, regret, and genuine growth.
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Sources used:
Rick Edwards says fatherhood has changed his presenting work for ever | Radio Times
