Richard Madeley admits what ‘saved his 39-year marriage’ to Judy Finnigan

Richard Madeley has shared an insight into his 35-year marriage with Judy Finnigan (Picture: Getty Images)

Richard Madeley has revealed how co-presenting live TV with his wife Judy Finnigan helped save their marriage.

The 69-year-old presenter is best known for hosting Good Morning Britain on ITV alongside Susanna Reid.

But, speaking to his daughter on the premiere episode of Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair on ITVX, Richard shared a candid insight into his 35-year marriage with Judy.

Recounting moments of strain in his relationship, he said: ‘Well, I mean, sometimes, you’d have a row. And you’d get to work not talking. But the show was a cure.’

He continued: ‘I mean, it wasn’t, like, false, you actually did genuinely have to come on and do the double act. You would find that within maybe 15, 20 minutes of going on air.’

At this point, Chloe cut in by saying ‘the ice thawed’ to which Richard replied: ‘You’d just forgotten all about it because you were both focusing on the job. And so it was a very good way of processing a row,’ the Express reported.

The couple presented This Morning together for 13 years (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock) The TV partnership pictured back in 1988 promoting Telethon (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Richard revealed how presenting live TV together helped save their marriage (Picture: Getty Images)

Richard, who was a contestant on the 2021 series of I’m A Celebrity, married Judy in 1986.

In the same year, they welcomed their first son before Chloe was born the following year.

They then hosted This Morning together from 1988 for more than a decade as well as presenting Richard and Judy.

In November last year, Richard revealed how he and Judy sleep in separate beds after 38 years of marriage.

Richard and Judy's relationship timeline 1982: Richard and Judy meet and begin dating while working for Granada Television despite being married to other people. 1986: They get married in Manchester.  1986: Their son, Jack Christopher, is born.  1987: Their daughter, Chloe Susannah, is born.  1988-2001: They present This Morning together 2001-2009: The pair present the show Richard and Judy

Speaking to Kate Thornton on her White Wine Question Time podcast, Richard said: ‘When I’m doing Good Morning Britain, I sleep in the spare room.’

He added: ‘I do probably sleep a little bit better in bed with Judy, but it’s okay on my own.’

Richard explained that he wouldn’t want his early morning starts to disrupt his wife’s sleep, saying: ‘I wouldn’t think of doing that to Judy.

‘Apart from anything else, Judy and her sleep, you do not mess with.’

The couple first started presenting This Morning together in 1988 Picture: (ITV/REX/Shutterstock) Richard revealed how they would sometimes be ‘rowing’ before they got to work (Picture: ITV) Richard and Judy present a special Christmas edition of This Morning (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

He went on to talk about how his wife is ‘really enjoying not doing telly’, following her own admission that she would never appear on This Morning again.

This came after he revealed that a pest problem had forced Judy into the spare bedroom after mice came crawling out into their room at night.

Richard also shed light on how Judy is baffled by his morning routine to wake up for Good Morning Britain.

Appearing on This Morning in April last year to celebrate ITV show GMB’s decade on air, he said: ‘I’m paranoid about sleeping through.

‘I have a ritual – I set them three times the night before and Judy says to me, “What are you doing? You know it’s set, what are you doing?” I say, “I have to do this”, otherwise I don’t sleep.’

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