The 42-year-old, who will make his debut on the BBC One soap tonight [17 February], confessed an ex-girlfriend had to stop him from ending it all.
“When I was made bankrupt [In 2007], it was hard because I was one of the first young guys from the MTV era deemed to have it all and then lose it all.
“I didn’t drink or smoke. I never have. I’ve never taken a drug in my life. But I was depressed, I was even suicidal.
“It was very real for me back them. Every time I walked out of the house, I was reminded by people that I had failed. I actually tried to throw myself out of a window, and that’s very true. An ex-girlfriend at the time stopped me from doing it. But it was a very dark time.”
The presenter said getting the role on EastEnders has turned his life around.
He said: “Before Dominic [Treadwell-Collins, executive producer] came to me, I had resigned myself to the fact that maybe this country wasn’t going to give me a role like this.
“When the audition came for EastEnders. I didn’t think I would get it. I felt disheartened and was planning to go to America.
“After the audition Dom said: ‘I want to offer you role if you will take it.’ And I said: ‘If I will take it?’
“When I got the role I went back to my car and started to cry. I couldn’t believe it. Dominic has changed my life.”
Little is known about Richard’s EastEnders character, apart from the fact he will be a ‘21st century villain’, and his first scenes will be live, as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations.