Judy Finnigan has revealed how husband Richard Madeley proposed after just three weeks of dating
(Picture: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)Judy Finnigan has revealed how husband Richard Madeley proposed to her after just three weeks of dating.
There was also the matter of the fact they were both married – albeit unhappily – at the time.
They began an affair after “sparks flew” while working for Granada television in 1982.
Madeley had married first wife Lynda Hooley when he was just 21.
Their union lasted five years and ended in divorced.
Finnigan, meanwhile, was married to journalist David Henshaw and decided to call time on the relationship after 12 years.
They shared twin boys together who were just six at the time.
Now Finnigan has recalled the complications their love brought about during a joint interview with Madeley on the White Wine Question Time podcast.
She said: "There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that my boys, who were six, twins, they are - two six year old boys were my absolute priority and they had to be.
"And as Richard and I got closer, and it was clear that we… you kind of talked about marriage after about three weeks, didn’t you, I remember. It was clear things were very, very serious."
The TV personality also had apprehensions about their eight-year age gap – she was 34 at the time and he was 26.
Concerned that he “wasn’t mature enough”, Finnigan briefly broke off the relationship.
The couple had son Jack in April 1986 and they were married six months later.
The following year they welcomed daughter Chloe.
Career-wise, it solidified one of the most popular husband-wife presenting duos in TV history.
They fronted This Morning for 23 years until 2001.
They then hosted Richard & Judy for a further eight years.
