Richard Madeley has revealed the bizarre way he realised he was ready to move in with Judy Finnigan as their relationship progressed to the next level.
The Good Morning Britain star went off to sit on a Greek beach alone for two weeks to think about the major milestone as he contemplated becoming a stepdad.
The TV presenter, who like Judy had split from his first spouse at the time, said he wanted to be absolutely certain he was going to be happy being a stepdad to Judy’s twin sons Dan and Tom, who were aged seven.
And, after his deep-thinking holiday, Richard decided he did. The couple have now been married for 39 years.
The two TV stars met in 1982 when they worked on separate programmes for Granada TV.
It was some time – after both their marriages had broken down – Judy’s to journalist David Henshaw and Richard’s to Linda, who he proposed to two weeks after meeting, before they got together.
Richard Madeley has revealed the bizarre way he realised he was ready to move in with now wife Judy Finnigan as he shares his worries about becoming a stepdad (pictured in 2023)
The TV star went off to sit on a Greek beach alone for two weeks to think about the major milestone as he contemplated becoming a stepdad to Judy’s twin boys (pictured in 1988)
But as they became more serious about each other they still both thought hard before setting up home together.
Opening up to Matt Willis on a coming episode of the Busted star’s On the Mend podcast, Richard said: ‘Judy and I worked together for years before we even talked about the prospect of getting together.
‘One of Judy’s main concerns was obviously her kids. They, you know, came first front and foremost in any move that she might make.
‘I remember her saying to me when it became clear that we were falling for each other and we were tentatively beginning to talk about maybe having a life together, “you’ve got to understand I come in a three pack – it’s me and Tom and Dan”.
‘And I took that very seriously. And this is before This Morning [which they presented together] started.
‘We’d been working and sharing our days together at the office for three years by then, and we were on the point of deciding to live together. We were both divorced.
‘But Judy was really concerned that I knew what I was doing as far as being a stepdad was concerned because the boys were going to live with her.
‘So I went off on my own. I went off to Greece for two weeks on a kind of a solo holiday to think about it because I didn’t want to rush.
He said: ‘One of Judy’s main concerns was obviously her kids. They, you know, came first front and foremost in any move that she might make’
The couple tied the knot in 1986 and now have two further children together, Jack and TV personality and personal trainer Chloe, 38 (pictured in 2001)
The couple pictured most recently with their children Jack and Chloe and granddaughter Bodhi in 2023. Judy’s twin boys are now in their late 40s and keep their lives private
‘I didn’t want to say with super confidence “Oh yeah, it’ll be fine, I’m happy to be a stepfather”.
‘I needed to know that I could deliver and that I meant it, that I really meant it.
‘So I went away for two weeks and just thought – basically sat on a beach for two weeks and just thought quite deeply about the future and about how I felt about it. And I felt very comfortable with it.
‘And I went back and told her that. I mean, the boys were adorable. They were only seven at that stage, and they were absolutely adorable.
‘And we went away for a week together, all four of us. We rented a cottage in Cornwall just as a little trial to see how we all got on. And it was fantastic. We had a great time. And that kind of sealed it.
‘So I moved in. We got formally engaged and we got married as soon as we could.’
The couple tied the knot in 1986 and now have two further children together, Jack and TV personality and personal trainer Chloe, 38.
Meanwhile Judy’s twin boys are now in their late 40s and keep their lives private.
Richard Madeley on the On The Mend podcast is available from October 20.
