Veteran television presenter Richard Madeley has opened up about the intimate details of his long-standing marriage to Judy Finnigan, revealing they now sleep in separate bedrooms. The 69-year-old Good Morning Britain star explained this major life change stems directly from his wife's decision to step away from the spotlight a decade ago.
The Reason Behind The Separate Beds
Appearing on Kate Thornton's White Wine Question Time podcast, Madeley shared that his demanding early-morning schedule for ITV's flagship breakfast programme is the primary reason for their sleeping arrangements. With GMB broadcasting from 6am, he often retires to a spare room to avoid disturbing his wife, who is no longer bound by the rigid timings of television production.
"When I'm doing Good Morning Britain I sleep in the spare room," Madeley stated candidly. He admitted that while he sleeps "a little bit better" beside Judy, he is perfectly content with the arrangement, quipping that one simply does not "mess with" Judy's sleep. This practical solution ensures that Finnigan, who retired from television ten years ago, can enjoy the undisturbed rest she now prefers.
A Partnership Forged in Television
The couple's lives have been inextricably linked since they first met in 1982 while working at Granada TV. Their professional and personal partnership blossomed, leading them to tie the knot 39 years ago on November 21 in Manchester. They became household names presenting ITV's This Morning before launching their own hit Channel 4 show, Richard & Judy, which ran from 2001 until 2009.
Reflecting on their early days, Madeley highlighted a key difference between their former routine and his current one. "We did This Morning... Judy and I would get up at the same time," he recalled. "The alarm would go off, we'd both get up and roll into our jeans." This synchronicity, born from a shared career, has naturally evolved since Finnigan's retirement.
The couple share two children together, Jack and Chloe Madeley, and Richard is also stepfather to Judy's two sons from her previous marriage, Dan and Tom Henshaw.
A Deliberate Decision for a Lasting Marriage
This isn't the first time Madeley has spoken about the thoughtful considerations that have underpinned their relationship. He recently disclosed on Matt Willis's On the Mend podcast that early on, he had to seriously contemplate his readiness to become a stepfather.
Faced with Judy's declaration that she came as a "three-pack" with her twins, a young Richard Madeley took a solo two-week trip to Greece to soul-search. He needed to be certain he could commit to the responsibility. "I didn't want to make that mistake," he explained, confirming that the time apart helped him realise he felt "quite comfortable" with the prospect, paving the way for their enduring marriage.
Despite their unconventional sleeping arrangements, it's clear that the foundation of the Madeley-Finnigan union is built on mutual respect and practical compromise, allowing both partners to thrive in their respective chapters of life.
