Richard Fairs: The Remarkable Story of Miranda Hart’s Husband and His Successful Career
Discover the life, professional achievements, family background, and unexpected love story of the British chartered building surveyor.
Richard Fairs is a British chartered building surveyor and business professional who attracted widespread public attention in October 2024 when he married celebrated English comedian and actress Miranda Hart. Although his wife has enjoyed decades of success in entertainment, Fairs built his career away from television cameras, specializing in property surveying and building conservation.
His relationship with Hart began unusually. They met through professional work involving a mould problem at her home, and their connection eventually developed into marriage.
Beyond his relationship with the famous actress, he has an established professional background, with decades of experience in the British property industry.
This article explores his professional journey, education, business, relationship with Miranda Hart, marriage, and personal life.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Richard William Fairs |
| Known As | Richard Fairs |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Chartered Building Surveyor |
| Professional Qualification | MRICS |
| Business | The Building Consultancy Ltd |
| Professional Base | Bristol, England |
| Wife | Miranda Hart |
| Marriage Date | 6 July 2023 |
| Education | Thames Polytechnic |
| Specialist Field | Building Conservation |
| Public Recognition | Miranda Hart’s husband |
Who Is Richard Fairs?
Richard Fairs is an experienced building surveyor who assesses buildings, advises property owners, and helps clients manage construction-related concerns.
Unlike his wife, he built his reputation through property and construction, not acting, comedy, or public appearances. He built his career in property and construction.
He is associated with The Building Consultancy, a surveying practice that provides independent professional advice.
His name became familiar to entertainment audiences when Hart revealed that she had married, prompting public curiosity about the man behind her unexpected announcement.
Early Life and Professional Education
Public information about Fairs’ childhood and family upbringing remains limited. However, his professional background is documented through his company’s published biography.
How His Surveying Career Began
He entered the surveying profession in 1982, initially joining a surveying business in Watford.
He subsequently attended Thames Polytechnic, where he completed his academic studies before developing his professional expertise in London.
Early in his career, he worked with established property firms, including Hogben Smith Barritt and J Trevor & Sons.
He qualified as a chartered building surveyor in 1989, a key milestone in his professional development.
His Specialist Conservation Qualification
In 2004, Fairs obtained a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors diploma in Building Conservation through the College of Estate Management.
This qualification reflects his professional involvement in preserving, maintaining, and understanding existing buildings, particularly historic properties.
Richard Fairs’ Professional Career
Fairs has spent decades working in the building surveying industry.
In 1992, he moved to Bristol to establish and lead a regional building consultancy department for J Trevor & Webster.
Later, he developed an independent consultancy business.
The Building Consultancy Ltd
The Building Consultancy was established in 1997 and provides surveying services to clients across southern England.
Fairs serves as its managing director. His professional background includes managing surveying departments and advising clients on property matters.
The firm’s connection with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors further establishes its place within the regulated surveying profession.
What Does a Building Surveyor Do?
A chartered building surveyor may undertake several important responsibilities, including:
- Assessing the condition of residential and commercial properties.
- Identifying building defects and maintenance requirements.
- Advising on repairs and refurbishment projects.
- Guiding historic buildings.
- Helping property owners understand construction-related risks.
These responsibilities show why surveying expertise matters when buildings need specialist assessment.
How Did Richard Fairs Meet Miranda Hart?
The couple’s relationship began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Hart faced serious mold-related problems in her home.
Fairs was involved in the building remediation project, and circumstances brought their lives together in ways neither had originally approached as romantic.
Hart later described the encounter in her memoir, I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You, published in October 2024.
Their Memorable First Date
At the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Hart recalled their early relationship and an amusing first date involving takeaway pizza.
The two spent considerable time talking while waiting for their food. Hart joked about the state of her pizza and remembered feeling comfortable around him.
She also explained that she had developed strong feelings for him surprisingly quickly.
Their relationship became an important part of the personal story she later shared with readers.
Richard Fairs and Miranda Hart’s Marriage
After their relationship developed, Fairs proposed to Hart during a visit to Kew Gardens in London.
Reports described the proposal as taking place near a lake, providing a quiet setting.
Their Private Wedding
Contemporary reporting identified July 6, 2023 as their wedding date, with the ceremony taking place at St Peter and St Paul Church in Hambledon, Hampshire.
Hart kept the marriage largely out of the public spotlight before announcing the news on BBC’s The One Show on October 8, 2024.
She expressed her happiness at becoming a bride at 51 and described her husband as her best friend.
The announcement delighted many viewers who had followed her career and personal journey.
Family Life and Privacy
Before marrying Hart, Fairs had a long-term marriage. Contemporary newspaper reports identified his former wife as Jeanne Speight and said they have two children.
Despite his connection to a prominent entertainer, he has maintained a relatively private public profile.
Hart has spoken publicly about the happiness and companionship she found in her marriage, particularly after difficult years involving chronic illness.
Nevertheless, the couple has not made every aspect of their family life public, and those boundaries deserve respect.
Why Has Richard Fairs Attracted Public Interest?
Much of the interest surrounding Fairs comes from the contrast between his established professional career and Hart’s celebrity status.
Their meeting also drew attention because it happened through an ordinary property problem rather than the entertainment industry.
His story offers audiences a different perspective on the person Hart married: an experienced professional with a substantial career independent of her television success.
Conclusion
Richard Fairs is more than Miranda Hart’s husband. He is an established British chartered building surveyor with extensive professional experience and specialist knowledge of building conservation.
His marriage brought him greater public recognition, but his professional achievements predated that attention.
His relationship with Hart remains a memorable story of an unexpected meeting that developed into lasting companionship.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Richard Fairs?
Richard Fairs is a British chartered building surveyor and managing director of The Building Consultancy. He is also known as the husband of comedian Miranda Hart.
2. What does Richard Fairs do for a living?
He works in building surveying, providing professional consultancy services concerning property condition, building maintenance, and related construction matters.
3. When did Richard Fairs marry Miranda Hart?
Contemporary reporting places their wedding on July 6, 2023, in Hambledon, Hampshire. Hart publicly revealed her marriage in October 2024.
4. How did Richard Fairs meet Miranda Hart?
They met during the pandemic, when Fairs worked on a project to address mould problems at Hart’s home.
5. Does Richard Fairs have children?
Yes. Reports published in October 2024 stated that he has two children from a previous marriage.
