Mansfield TV star lands '˜dream job' in America

Richard Bacon with his wife Rebecca and children, Ivy 22 months and 4 year old Arthur.

The 40-year-old, has been offered a daily show on the National Geographic Channel which will be broadcast to more than 170 countries, including the UK.

Called ‘Explorer’, it will be an alternative look at the week’s events and filmed in front of a live studio audience in New York.

The former St Peter’s Primary School pupil has busy carving out a career in the United States and is currently co-anchoring ABC News’ online coverage of the presidential race.

Although living in Los Angeles with his wife and two children, they came back to Mansfield before Christmas to celebrate his 40th birthday with his family.

Richards said: “It’s all very exciting - from Mansfield to London, to LA - next stop New York.

“It’s both exciting and challenging. Life can be tough in New York and we have two young children aged two and four, so resettling them may not be easy, but we’ll get there - as we did when we moved to LA some 18 months ago.

“It’s a dream job – it’s like being given the key to a really nice car – better make sure I don’t drive it into a ditch!”

His mother, Christine, who still lives in Mansfield added: “I’m delighted for him. Richard has long had aspirations to work in America and when he rented out his London home and took his family to LA, of course, I was concerned as to how things would work out.

“We went out to visit them in LA last month and it was clear they are all loving their new lifestyle. I look forward to visiting them in New York too.”

During his career, Richard has worked for BBC Radio Nottingham, the tongue-in-cheek Live TV channel, Blue Peter, Big Breakfast, Top of the Pops, ITV’s This Morning and worked on BBC Radio 5 Live.

He is currently back in Britain and will presenting BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime for a week from Monday.

Filming for his America show is expected to begin in the autumn, it will be a weekly one-hour series which will run for most of the year.

He is the latest British export to be given his own programme in the US, with James Corden, who took over CBS’ The Late Late Show last year.