Why are Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan Going Their Separate Ways – What’s Really Going On?
Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley has shared details about his enduring relationship with Judy Finnigan, following the couple’s decision to part ways professionally.
Famed for their joint success on Channel 4’s ‘Richard and Judy’, which they hosted together for eight years, the duet became television favourites. With both drawing admiration for their work on This Morning for over a decade, the couple’s paths diverged after they tied the knot in 1986. Judy opted for retirement from TV, while Richard has continued on screen, notably on ITV’s GMB.
In an intimate discussion on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast, they spoke of how their marriage stayed robust amidst their separate career trajectories. Richard described their partnership as “semi-detached”, stressing that despite stepping away from co-hosting shows, their off-screen support for each other hasn’t waned, reports the Manchester Evening News.
On keeping their bond strong amid changes in their work lives, Judy stated: “We are incredibly close, we always have been.” She further emphasised: “Obviously, I think working together for so long has bonded us more tightly than if we had two completely separate jobs.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 01: Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan attend a BAFTA tribute evening to long running TV show “This Morning” at BAFTA on October 1, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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Judy reflected on the influence of their shared television ventures, adding: “I think the thing is, when you’re presenting a show like the kind that we presented, it’s very instinctive, you’re doing interviews all the time.” She commented: “By the time I decided I’d had enough, you and I were something completely different anyway, it just didn’t matter, it didn’t make any difference at all.
“When you go and do GMB, I’m still here in bed, I’m happy to stay when he gets up, it doesn’t make any difference at all to our relationship.”
Richard explained to host Kate: “I can see that from the outside, it looks as if… as you say, we were bonded in our professional lives together and now we’re not, but actually, here on the inside, we still are.”
Richard launched his career at BBC Radio Carlisle (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Roy)
He added: “So we’re not actually as detached, I suppose we’re a bit semi-detached, but we’re not detached in the way that it might seem to outsiders.”
Richard and Judy continue to share a loving marriage, with nearly forty years together, and have two children, Chloe and Jack.
