Tessa Wyatt: Biography, Marriages, and TV Career

Anyone who spent the late 1970s watching British sitcoms remembers Robin’s Nest — and at its heart was Tessa Wyatt as Vicky Tripp. Her on-screen chemistry with Richard O’Sullivan was so convincing that it mirrored real life: the two married in 1971 and split four years later. This article explores the intersections of her career and personal life, from her marriage to O’Sullivan to her later relationship with DJ Tony Blackburn.

Born: 23 April 1948 ·
Birthplace: Woking, Surrey, England ·
Best known role: Vicky Tripp in Robin’s Nest (1977–1981) ·
Spouse: Richard O’Sullivan (m. 1971; div. 1975) ·
Partner: Tony Blackburn (1976–?) ·
Children: 1

Eight biographical facts, one pattern: most details about Tessa Wyatt’s career are well-documented, but her personal life remains guarded.

Why did Richard O’Sullivan and Tessa Wyatt split up?

Reasons reported by media

Tessa Wyatt and Richard O’Sullivan were married from 1971 to 1975 (Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia)). According to a Telegraph (British daily newspaper) report, Tony Blackburn later described a “love square” involving the pair, but O’Sullivan and Wyatt have never issued a joint statement about the reasons behind the divorce.

Timeline of marriage and split

• 1971: Tessa Wyatt marries Richard O’Sullivan (Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia))
• 1975: Divorce finalized (Wikipedia)
• Late 1975: O’Sullivan reportedly begins a relationship with Sally Thomsett (Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia))

The implication: Despite the public fame of both actors, the private reasons remain a matter of speculation.

Did Tony Blackburn have children with Tessa Wyatt?

Tessa Wyatt’s daughter

Content plan and some biographical summaries state that Tessa Wyatt has a daughter named Zoe Blackburn, born around 1977. However, high-confidence sources such as IMDb (the film database) indicate that Richard O’Sullivan and Wyatt had a son, Jamie, born May 1980. A low-authority Facebook archive claims Blackburn and Wyatt had a son in 1973. The conflicting reports make the exact number and paternity of her children unclear.

Relationship with Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn publicly acknowledged a relationship with Wyatt after her divorce. Photographs of the couple announcing their engagement were documented by Alamy (stock photography archive). Blackburn claimed Wyatt left him for Richard O’Sullivan (The Telegraph (British daily newspaper)), though Wyatt later disputed parts of his account in a Yahoo Entertainment (news outlet) interview, saying “That’s false I’ve had any” in reference to his claims.

The trade-off: What seems like a simple yes-or-no question about children turns out to be one of the most contested details in Wyatt’s biography.

Is Tessa Wyatt still married?

Current marital status

According to IMDb (the film database), Tessa Wyatt married William Archibald Harkness in August 1986. There is no public record of a divorce or separation, suggesting she is still married to Harkness. The couple maintains a very low profile.

Past marriages and relationships

• Married Richard O’Sullivan (1971–1975) (Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia))
• Relationship with Tony Blackburn (1976–?) (Alamy (stock photography archive))
• Married William Harkness (1986–present) (IMDb (the film database))

The pattern: Each of Wyatt’s relationships has been with a public figure, yet she has consistently chosen to keep the details of her private life out of the spotlight.

Did Tessa Wyatt marry Richard O’Sullivan?

Details of marriage

Yes. Tessa Wyatt and Richard O’Sullivan were married in 1971. The marriage lasted four years, ending in divorce in 1975 (Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia)). During their marriage, O’Sullivan was starring in Man About the House and its spin-off Robin’s Nest, where Wyatt played his on-screen partner.

Relationship timeline

• 1971: Marriage
• 1975: Divorce
• After 1975: Wyatt began a relationship with Tony Blackburn; O’Sullivan dated Sally Thomsett

Why this matters: The marriage created a real-life backdrop for one of British television’s most famous sitcom couples.

Where does Tessa Wyatt live now?

Current residence

Tessa Wyatt has kept a low public profile since the 1980s. Biographical sources suggest she lives in the south of England, but no precise location has been confirmed. Her last known public appearance dates back several years, and she does not maintain verified social media accounts.

Privacy and public life

The lack of recent public appearances fits a pattern of deliberate privacy. Unlike many former television stars, Wyatt has not participated in reunion interviews or nostalgia events. Her withdrawal from public life is consistent with her post-1990s retirement from acting.

The catch: For fans wondering about her whereabouts, little more than “somewhere in the UK” is available.

Did Richard O’Sullivan date Sally Thomsett?

Relationship with Sally Thomsett

Richard O’Sullivan co-starred with Sally Thomsett in Man About the House. According to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia), the two dated after his split from Tessa Wyatt. Thomsett has publicly acknowledged the relationship in interviews.

Impact on Tessa Wyatt

The timing of the relationship – after Wyatt’s divorce from O’Sullivan and during the run of Robin’s Nest – added a layer of tabloid intrigue. However, Wyatt has never commented publicly on the matter, keeping her focus on her acting career and subsequent private life.

The implication: The O’Sullivan-Thomsett relationship, while newsworthy at the time, had no documented effect on Wyatt’s career trajectory.

Timeline

• 23 April 1948: Born in Woking, Surrey (IMDb (the film database))
• 1967: Appeared in BBC’s Pride and Prejudice (Wikipedia)
• 1971: Married Richard O’Sullivan (Wikipedia)
• 1975: Divorced Richard O’Sullivan (Wikipedia)
• 1976: Began relationship with DJ Tony Blackburn (Alamy)
• 1977–1981: Starred as Vicky Tripp in Robin’s Nest (Wikipedia)
• 1977: Daughter Zoe Blackburn born (per biographical summaries)
• 1986: Married William Archibald Harkness (IMDb)
• 1990s: Retired from acting (IMDb)
• 2024: Living privately in the UK

What we know and what’s uncertain

Quotes from the key players

“It was a love square.”

— Tony Blackburn, The Telegraph

“That’s false I’ve had any.”

— Tessa Wyatt, disputing Blackburn’s claims, Yahoo Entertainment

“Robin’s Nest was the first UK sitcom to feature an unmarried couple cohabiting.”

— Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia)

For Tessa Wyatt, her legacy as Vicky Tripp remains intact, while her personal story serves as a reminder that public fame often hides private mystery. For fans of 1970s British comedy, the full picture may never emerge.

Frequently asked questions