Richard Madeley was visibly moved in a poignant Channel 5 documentary celebrating his and wife Judy Finnigan’s broadcasting journey.
The Good Morning Britain host was overcome with emotion as he reminisced about his career, from his beginnings at Granada to fronting This Morning. However, it was the moment he spoke about taking over Sir Terry Wogan’s Radio 2 show following the broadcasting icon’s death in 2016 that brought Richard to tears.
He confessed on the live broadcast: “None of us saw this coming,” acknowledging the shock felt worldwide after the Children in Need stalwart passed away at 77. Looking back on the event eight years on, the depth of Richard’s feelings was unmistakable.
Judy provided comfort to her husband as they sat together on their sofa, discussing the daunting task of stepping into Wogan’s role, a challenge for anyone given Terry’s beloved status.
Reflecting on that day in the documentary, Richard shared: “It was all very emotional. It went fine, and the guests spoke beautifully, so I didn’t have to do much, thankfully,” reports the Mirror.
He continued, recalling the end of the show: “Going off air, I was looking through the glass into the gallery. It was full of Radio 2 staff presenters, the head of the station, producers. It was full of them, all watching in silence.”
Richard paused, fighting back tears, as he expressed his thoughts at the time: “I just remember thinking, ‘I don’t think I let Terry down there’.”
Overwhelmed by the memory, Richard struggled to continue speaking, while Judy reassured him, saying: “You did very well.”
In the programme, Richard reminisced how his early days at work with Judy had a unique twist, sharing: “I was sitting at my desk when this hand appeared on my shoulder and I looked up at this face and Judy said, ‘Hi, I’m your Mummy’ and I thought ‘Whaaaaat?'”
Explaining the peculiar tradition at Granada, he added, “At Granada when someone new arrived, someone was appointed as their dad or their mum to show them round the canteen, the toilets and all that. So Judy was my ‘mum’.”
The couple first exchanged vows in 1986 and Richard disclosed that for a period after their wedding, Granada’s rules prevented them from working together, until an opportunity arose at a charity event in 1988. Following this, they secured their iconic roles on This Morning, marking the start of their joint television journey.