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Richard Madeley proposed to Judy Finnigan while they were both married – after three weeks of dating

Richard Madeley proposed to Judy Finnigan while they were both married - after three weeks of dating 2

‘I thought he was a bit flash’: Judy Finnigan, 73, reveals husband Richard Madeley, 65, proposed while they were both married… and it was only three weeks after their very first date

Judy Finnigan has admitted her husband Richard Madeley proposed while they were both married, and it was only three weeks after their very first date.

The TV presenter, 73, already had twins Tom and Jack, then six, when she met her partner, 65, while they were both working for Granada Television – an ITV franchisee.

Unhappy in her marriage with journalist David Henshaw, the Good Morning Britain anchor had already spotted her on TV and had developed a crush.

'I thought he was a bit flash': Judy Finnigan, 73, has revealed her husband Richard Madeley, 65, proposed while they were both married... and it was only three weeks after their very first date (pictured in 2019)

‘I thought he was a bit flash’: Judy Finnigan, 73, has revealed her husband Richard Madeley, 65, proposed while they were both married… and it was only three weeks after their very first date (pictured in 2019)

She told Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast: ‘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.’

Judy even confessed she thought Richard’s suit at the time was ‘a bit flash’, however since he otherwise ‘looked nice’, she decided to let their relationship develop.

She revealed their colleagues were convinced the pair were only involved in ‘a fling’ and were left astonished when they each got a divorce from their other halves.

Throwback: The TV presenter, 73, already had twins Tom and Jack, then six, when she met her partner, 65, while they were both working for Granada Television - an ITV franchisee (pictured in 1983)

Throwback: The TV presenter, 73, already had twins Tom and Jack, then six, when she met her partner, 65, while they were both working for Granada Television – an ITV franchisee (pictured in 1983)

The author thought he ‘looked nice’ but thought his suit was ‘a bit flash’, although they instantly hit it off.

Colleagues at Granada Television thought the relationship was a fling; and were surprised when things got serious, and they divorced their respective partners.

Richard was married to Lynda Hooley for five years before they divorced in 1983 after he met Judy, while she was with husband David until 1986.

The famous couple hosted This Morning from its inception in 1998 to 2001 before taking on their show – Richard and Judy – in 2001 for eight years.

They share Jack, 35, who is a talent manager, and personal trainer Chloe, 34, who is notably married to professional rugby player James Haskell, 37.

Meanwhile, Judy had a 43-year career in television after beginning as the first female reporter for regional news show About Anglia.

She hosted This Morning with husband Richard between the years of 1988 until 2001, and that year, the couple were poached by Channel 4 to front their own eponymous afternoon show, Richard & Judy. 

Family: They share Jack, 35, who is a talent manager, and personal trainer Chloe, 34, who is notably married to professional rugby player James Haskell, 37

Family: They share Jack, 35, who is a talent manager, and personal trainer Chloe, 34, who is notably married to professional rugby player James Haskell, 37

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