The line-up for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2021 has officially been unveiled and, amongst those taking part in this year’s gruelling series is Good Morning Britain presenter, Richard Madeley.
Often trending on Twitter whenever he’s presenting the ITV morning show - arguably for all of the wrong reasons - he’s undoubtedly going to be a dividing figure when he appears from Gwrych Castle in Wales from this Sunday (November 21st, 2021).
1. Wife Judy Finnigan introduced herself to Richard as 'Mummy'
Though it sounds utterly horrendous and terribly creepy, it's a little more innocent than it seems. First meeting in 1982 when Richard started working at Granada, he walked into the newsroom as Judy was sat at her desk. As Richard was a newbie, Judy was given the job of looking after him. "I was sitting at my desk," Richard previously said, "when this hand appeared on my shoulder and I looked up at this face and Judy said, 'Hi, I'm your Mummy’."
Putting the comment into context, he further explained: "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'."
2. Richard is half-Canadian, born in Essex
Born in Romford, Essex, you wouldn't guess Richard had roots from a foreign country. His mother Mary Clare however, is indeed a Canadian! Richard would go on to travel to the country as part of the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are, which aired a decade ago, in 2011.
3. He told daughter Chloe she was an “accident”
Richard and Judy share two children, but one of them, he claims, was the result of an accidental pregnancy.
Speaking during a segment on Good Morning Britain in 2017, Richard dropped the bombshell live on-air, saying: "I was telling Kate [Garraway] earlier that when we had our fourth child - Judy had two by her first marriage - and then we had a little boy called Jack and then Judy got pregnant very quickly again, it was an accident. Sorry Chloe but you were and you know it.”
He’s certainly not one to mince his words!
4. Richard serves as an Agony Uncle for The Telegraph
Succeeding Graham Norton in the role, Richard became the Agony Uncle for The Telegraph in November 2018 but, received backlash when he responded to an enquiry about someone who thought their next door neighbour may be experiencing domestic abuse.
After saying “if they were going to kill each other, they’d have done it by now,” charity Refuge spoke out against him and said the “advice” was both “appalling and dangerous”. Richard issued an apology in June 2020.
5. He was married before meeting Judy Finnigan
Not many realise that Richard was actually married before his life with Judy! In 1977, he would tie the knot with Lynda Hooley, before the two separated and got divorced in 1983. His marriage to Judy would take place three years later in 1986.
6. Richard wants to get voted for the I’m A Celeb trials
Most of the famous faces who take part in I’m A Celebrity hope that the public won’t put them through gruelling and often-hideous Trials to earn meals for their fellow campmates, but not Richard!
Speaking ahead of his debut, he said: "I really hope I do get voted for the Trials. The thing about this programme is you mustn't go into it if you take yourself remotely seriously. I don't and I am thoroughly looking forward to being covered in god knows what! You have to be prepared for people to laugh and I see this as a bl**dy great romp of fun!"
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! begins Sunday, November 21st, 2021 on ITV.
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