Julian Richards was born in 1951 in Nottingham, England. He developed an early interest in archaeology, which later shaped his academic and professional career.

Details about his parents are not widely documented, but his upbringing in England contributed to his fascination with British history and ancient sites.

He studied at the University of Reading, where he trained in archaeology. He began his career working for the Berkshire Archaeological Unit and later joined Wessex Archaeology, where he led the Stonehenge Environs Project.

Richards gained national recognition as the presenter of Meet the Ancestors on BBC Two (1998–2004), a documentary series exploring archaeological discoveries and reconstructing past lives through science.

He lives in Dorset with his family and continues to work as a writer, broadcaster, and archaeologist, contributing to radio and historical media projects.