Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley was visibly moved during Thursday's broadcast as he paid an emotional tribute to his late friend, television executive Stuart Prebble. The 69-year-old broadcaster struggled to contain his tears while speaking about Prebble, who passed away in August at the age of 74 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
A Friendship Spanning Five Decades
During a segment featuring actor Stephen Mangan, Madeley took a moment to honour his long-time companion, describing him as "a very good friend" he had known for half a century. "I want to pay a short tribute to this interview without paying a very short tribute to a good friend of both of us: Stuart Prebble," Madeley said, his voice wavering with emotion. "I knew him for 50 years. He passed away last year."
Colleagues Offer Support
Co-host Kate Garraway offered comforting words as Madeley composed himself, telling him: "Richard, what a lovely, lovely person you are. A lovely person." Mangan, who had attended Prebble's funeral alongside Madeley, added that the presenter had "spoke really beautifully" during the service. Madeley responded: "I was speaking of a very beautiful man. We miss him very much. I just thought it was something I should say."
Prebble's Television Legacy
Stuart Prebble enjoyed a distinguished career in British television, serving as one of ITV's chief executives during the early 2000s. He was the creative force behind the popular television series Grumpy Old Men and went on to establish StoryVault Films, the production company responsible for the acclaimed competition series Portrait and Landscape Artist of the Year, which Mangan presents.
Prebble's professional relationship with Madeley began in the 1980s when he worked as a producer on Granada Reports, the programme that marked Madeley's television debut alongside his wife Judy Finnigan. The collaboration continued on This Morning before the couple secured their own Channel 4 programme in 2001. This year holds special significance for Madeley and Finnigan as they celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.
Previous Emotional Moments
This is not the first time Madeley has shown vulnerability on air. Last year, he became emotional while discussing his mother's reaction to his decision to leave school at sixteen to pursue journalism. "My mum thought it was a very bad move, my dad thought it was great," he revealed to co-host Charlotte Hawkins during A-Level results day coverage. "My mum hated me as I started work when I was 16 and she insisted that I go to night school and take A-Levels there. So, I took an English A-Level and I got a B, I think."
That early career choice proved fortuitous, with Madeley achieving promotion to assistant editor within two years before joining the BBC three years later. The broadcaster's emotional tribute to Prebble underscores the deep personal connections that often develop behind the scenes in the television industry, reminding viewers of the human stories that exist beyond the studio lights.
