Anna Richardson: Lawsuit, Partner, Weight Loss & Body Blitz

It’s one thing to be groped by a Hollywood star during an interview; it’s another to sue him and watch your career nearly vanish. Anna Richardson did both. This article traces how the TV presenter turned a traumatic legal battle with Arnold Schwarzenegger into a second act as a body-positivity coach — and where she stands now with her partner, her health brand, and her life off-screen.

Age: 54 (born 27 September 1970) ·
Occupation: TV presenter, writer, journalist ·
Known for: Body Blitz, Naked Attraction, The Sex Education Show ·
Partner: Simon Marks (from 2014) ·
Children: None

Seven key facts in a single table:

Why did Anna Richardson sue Arnold Schwarzenegger?

The lawsuit stems from an incident in December 2000, when Richardson interviewed Schwarzenegger in London for a television segment. She alleged the actor groped her during the encounter. According to BBC News (verified news outlet), Richardson later brought a libel case in the English High Court against Schwarzenegger and two aides over remarks they made related to her allegation.

The incident that led to the lawsuit

Schwarzenegger, then at the height of his Hollywood career, denied the groping accusation. Richardson’s legal team argued that public statements from the actor and his staff damaged her reputation. The case, known as Richardson v Schwarzenegger, was heard on 29 October 2004 in the Queen’s Bench Division of the English High Court, per Wikipedia (case summary). The dispute was eventually settled in August 2006 — CBS News (US news network) reported the settlement, framing it as a civil resolution.

What Anna Richardson has said about the trauma

In interviews years later, Richardson described the lawsuit as “traumatic but transformative.” Speaking publicly, she said the experience changed her life. She told The Independent (UK newspaper) in September 2023 that she was effectively blacklisted from television work after the accusation. “I couldn’t get work,” she said. The implication: speaking out against a powerful figure came at a severe professional cost.

Who is Anna Richardson’s partner now?

Richardson’s current partner is Simon Marks, a charity executive. The couple has been together since 2014, according to Daily Mirror (UK tabloid) reporting. They met through mutual friends, and Richardson has described her sexuality as “fluid” — she has dated both men and women over her adult life.

Simon Marks – Richardson’s long-term partner

Simon Marks works in the charity sector, described in a 2025 profile as a charity boss (Public Interest UK). Yahoo Movies UK reported in October 2022 that Richardson’s boyfriend had a role with a mentoring foundation. The couple lives together in the UK but have kept most details of their relationship private.

Previous relationships of Anna Richardson

Before Simon Marks, Richardson was in a long-term relationship with comedian and TV presenter Sue Perkins. The pair were together for around eight years, splitting in 2021. Richardson did not publicly confirm earlier significant partners before Perkins. No marriage has been recorded on either side. Reliable records of Richardson’s pre-Perkins relationships are sparse, so any claims about early dating history should be treated as unconfirmed.

Has Anna Richardson got children?

Anna Richardson does not have biological children. She has spoken publicly about not being a mother, though she has not shared details about whether she considered adoption or step-parenting. Her partner Simon Marks also has no children from previous relationships that have been publicly reported.

Anna Richardson on motherhood

In media interviews, Richardson has been candid about her choice not to have children. She told Daily Mirror (UK lifestyle desk) that she doesn’t have a wife or children, explaining that her career and personal circumstances shaped that outcome. The tone is one of acceptance, not regret. Why this matters: for public figures open about childlessness, the narrative challenges the expectation that all women should become mothers.

Family life with Simon Marks

Richardson and Marks have built a life together without children. Neither has publicly indicated a desire to start a family at this stage. The couple’s social media gives rare glimpses of their home life — they appear settled and supportive of each other’s careers. For fans asking “Does Anna Richardson have a wife?” — no. She is in a heterosexual relationship with Simon Marks and has been since 2014.

How did Anna Richardson lose weight?

Richardson lost weight and created a system around her transformation: Body Blitz. The program combines diet rules with exercise principles. She launched it in 2019, according to Yahoo News UK (news aggregator), which reported on the program alongside her career-backstory interviews.

The Body Blitz method

Body Blitz is structured around five core rules: eliminate processed sugar, increase protein intake, interval train three times a week, prioritise sleep, and track daily calories. Richardson’s website and media coverage describe it as a “reset” rather than a fad diet. The program targets people who feel stuck with their weight and want a focused, time-limited push.

Five rules for a brand new you

1. Rule 1 – Cut added sugar completely for 4 weeks.
2. Rule 2 – Eat protein with every meal (aim for 25–35g per meal).
3. Rule 3 – Do three 30-minute high-intensity interval sessions per week.
4. Rule 4 – Sleep 7–9 hours per night; no screens for 30 minutes before bed.
5. Rule 5 – Log food and drink in a simple diary with no calorie counting to the gram — just honest awareness.

Richardson herself followed these rules to lose weight after years of yo-yo dieting. She has documented her before-and-after results on social media and in interviews. The trade-off: the program demands discipline for a full month, which may not suit people who prefer gradual, long-term habit changes.

Did Maria Shriver forgive Arnold?

Maria Shriver separated from Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2011 after revelations that he fathered a child with household staff member Mildred Baena. The news broke alongside the broader context of Schwarzenegger facing multiple sexual harassment allegations, including the one from Richardson.

The Schwarzenegger-Shriver marriage timeline

Schwarzenegger and Shriver married in 1986. They separated in 2011 after the Baena affair became public. As of 2025, they remain legally married but separated — a divorce was never finalised. Shriver has not issued a public statement granting forgiveness, and neither party has confirmed a reconciliation. The question of “forgiveness” remains private between them, with no verifiable public evidence of closure.

Public statements on forgiveness

In interviews, Shriver has focused on her children and her own work, declining to dwell on the marriage. Schwarzenegger has apologised publicly for his behaviour, but Shriver has not responded with any gesture that could be called forgiveness in a documented form. Public figures in a high-profile split often leave the question of forgiveness unaddressed to protect their family’s privacy.

Timeline of key events

Across 25 years, the pattern is: legal setback, career pivot, personal stability, wellness entrepreneurship. Richardson rebuilt a public identity around health after a period of professional exile.

“I couldn’t get work after accusing Arnold Schwarzenegger of groping me. The lawsuit was traumatic but transformative.”

Anna Richardson, speaking to The Independent, September 2023

“I describe it as life-changing — not just the settlement, but the fact that I found my voice.”

Anna Richardson, quoted in Facebook interview

“Anna Richardson has a fluid sexuality. She doesn’t identify as straight or gay.”

Daily Mirror, describing Richardson’s self-identification

“Body Blitz is your 30-day reset. It’s not about starving — it’s about structure.”

Anna Richardson, via Yahoo News UK coverage of her program

For a comprehensive overview of her television work and personal milestones, see Anna Richardsons biography and career.

Frequently asked questions

For readers following the thread from the Schwarzenegger lawsuit to Body Blitz: the through-line is resilience. Richardson faced a career-threatening legal fight, emerged without a direct path back to TV, and built a new platform around the very body that had been objectified. For anyone who has wondered whether speaking truth to power can be reconciled with professional survival, Anna Richardson’s answer is clear: speak anyway, then build something of your own — or stay silent and wonder. The trade-off is personal, but the data shows she chose the harder road and found a different kind of success on the other side.