Richard Blackwood: Career, EastEnders Return, Age, Instagram

Richard Blackwood has been a familiar face on British screens for decades, but his career path has taken more turns than a soap opera plot. Born on 15 May 1972 in South London, he first made his name as a rapper and comedian before stepping into the role of EastEnders villain Vincent Hubbard in 2015.

Born: 15 May 1972 · Age (2025): 52 · Instagram followers: 264K · Spotify monthly listeners: 5.1K · EastEnders role: Vincent Hubbard (2015‑2018)

Eight facts, one pattern: Richard Blackwood’s entertainment career spans stand‑up, music, presenting, and television drama — yet many of the biographical details remain publicly scattered.

What does Richard Blackwood do now?

Current occupations

• Comedian and actor – recently seen in Hollyoaks as Felix Westwood (2020–present) (Wikipedia – Hollyoaks role)
• Rapper – still has an active Spotify profile with 5.1K monthly listeners (Spotify – artist page)
• Presenter – has hosted and guest‑presented on various UK shows (Black History Month 2026 – career summary)

Social media presence

Blackwood maintains an active Instagram presence under the handle @richardblackwood, where he posts about his projects and daily life. As of the latest data, he has 264K followers (Instagram – official profile). His Facebook page has 20.7K likes (Facebook – official page).

Recent projects

• In 2020 he joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Felix Westwood, a role that earned him nominations for a TRIC Award and a National Television Award (Wikipedia – Hollyoaks awards).
• An Instagram post from 2026 indicated he was abroad filming a new TV series (Instagram – bio/post clues).
• A Black History Month 2026 listing described him as having “conquered MTV, owned Top of the Pops” and appeared on EastEnders and Hollyoaks (Black History Month 2026 – event listing).

The implication: Blackwood has successfully pivoted from his 90s rap fame to steady soap work, but he is still chasing a mainstream comeback that matches his earlier peak.

Is Richard Blackwood coming back to EastEnders?

His role as Vincent Hubbard

• Blackwood played the ruthless club owner Vincent Hubbard from February 2015 to April 2018 (EastEnders Wiki – Fandom).
• His casting was announced on 17 January 2015 (Wikipedia – announcement date).
• The character was killed off screen, with his death revealed in 2021 (Female First – 2024 interview).

Reasons for leaving

In a 2024 interview with Female First (celebrity news outlet), Blackwood said he wished the exit storyline had been handled better. He noted that viewers should not have had to wait three years to learn that Vincent had died.

Rumors of return

As of 2025 there is no official confirmation from the BBC or Blackwood himself about a return. Speculation online, including a YouTube video titled “RICHARD BLACKWOOD | EASTENDERS PLOT TWIST REVEALED” (YouTube – fan commentary), remains unsubstantiated.

The catch: Soap characters are often resurrected even after off‑screen deaths, so a return is possible but unconfirmed.

What is Richard Blackwood’s nationality?

Nationality

• Richard Blackwood is British (Wikipedia – nationality).

Birth details

• He was born on 15 May 1972 in Clapham, Lambeth, London, England (IMDb – birth place).
• His full name is Richard Clifford Blackwood (Wikipedia – full name).

Why this matters: Blackwood’s British identity is central to his career — nearly all his work has been on UK television and music stages.

How old is Richard Blackwood?

Date of birth

• 15 May 1972 (Wikipedia – birth date).

Current age

As of 2025, Richard Blackwood is 52 years old.

The pattern: At 52, Blackwood is in a phase where many TV actors expand into producing or writing, but he continues to take on‑screen roles.

How many followers does Richard Blackwood have on Instagram?

Instagram account

• His handle is @richardblackwood (Instagram – official profile).

Follower count

He has 264K followers as of the latest available data (Instagram – official profile).

The pattern: Social media gives Blackwood a direct line to fans, but his follower count has plateaued, suggesting a niche but loyal audience.

Timeline

• 15 May 1972 – Born in London, England (Wikipedia – birth date)
• 1990s – Began career as a rapper and comedian (Black History Month 2026 – career summary)
• 2015 – Started playing Vincent Hubbard on EastEnders (Wikipedia – EastEnders role)
• 2018 – Left EastEnders (EastEnders Wiki – Fandom)
• 2025 – Active on social media; potential EastEnders return speculated (Female First – 2024 interview)

Quotes and perspectives

“I wished they had handled my exit storyline better. The viewers shouldn’t have had to wait three years to find out Vincent had died.”

Richard Blackwood, speaking to Female First (celebrity news outlet) in 2024.

“Richard Blackwood has conquered MTV, owned Top of the Pops, and appeared on EastEnders and Hollyoaks — three phenomenal decades in the game.”

Black History Month 2026 (event listing)

For Richard Blackwood, the choice is clear: continue leveraging his soap fan base and social media presence, or push for a bigger prime‑time comeback. The next few years will decide whether he remains a familiar face or recaptures his 90s spotlight.

Frequently asked questions