Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley has fondly recalled being neighbours with Tony Wilson in a revealing new interview.
The journalists and TV hosts both lived in Didsbury and their children grew up together and are still good friends.
Richard, 65, was based in the region for many years when working for Granada TV.
And when he met Tony, who died in 2007 aged 57, he was already well-known in the city as co-founder of Factory Records that introduced bands including Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays and manager of the Hacienda nightclub.
In a revealing interview with The Times, Richard says his late friend had a big impact on his life.
“He gave me a valuable life lesson," he said.
And Richard recalled: "All over the city then there was graffiti saying 'Tony Wilson is a w***er'.'
"I said, 'don’t you mind that?’ He said, 'why should I f***ing mind?' I said, 'If I went back to my home town and saw 'Richard Madeley’s a w***er' spray painted everywhere I would mind. Why don’t you mind?’ 'Because it’s f***ing true.
"'Let me ask you something, do you like being on telly?’ ‘What do you mean?’ 'F*** off, Richard, do you like being on telly?’
"‘Erm, yes I do.’ ‘Well, so do I, and that makes us both w***ers.’"
Former This Morning host Richard, who presented the ITV morning show from 1988 until 2001 with his wife Judy Finnigan, has two children, talent manager Jack and fitness coach Chloe.
He was one of the celebrities joining castle life on I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! l ast year.
But sadly his time on the show was cut short after he started to feel unwell and was taken to hospital.
Afterwards he reassured people that he was 'absolutely fine'.
But Covid protocols meant Richard had to leave the show as he was no longer in the bubble the celebrities formed when entering the castle.
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