Richard & Judy: You ask the questions

YOU ASK

Judy Finnigan, 54, was born in Manchester and began her television career as Anglia TV's first female on-screen reporter. Her husband, Richard Madeley, 46, was born in Essex and came to television after working as a newspaper and radio reporter. The pair met as co-presenters on Granada Reports in 1982. Their rapport led to their appointment in 1988 as presenters for Granada's new daytime TV programme, This Morning. Richard and Judy hosted the programme for 13 years before moving to Channel 4 in 2001 to host a topical afternoon chat show, Richard and Judy. The programme's second series started yesterday.

Judy Finnigan, 54, was born in Manchester and began her television career as Anglia TV's first female on-screen reporter. Her husband, Richard Madeley, 46, was born in Essex and came to television after working as a newspaper and radio reporter. The pair met as co-presenters on Granada Reports in 1982. Their rapport led to their appointment in 1988 as presenters for Granada's new daytime TV programme, This Morning. Richard and Judy hosted the programme for 13 years before moving to Channel 4 in 2001 to host a topical afternoon chat show, Richard and Judy. The programme's second series started yesterday.

What do you find most attractive about each other?
Zoe Jubb, Bristol

R: Space is limited, so I'll go for Judy's gateway appeals that draw me in deep – her sexy eyes and smile; her laugh.

J: He makes me laugh; he's kind and sexy.

Judy, we all remember themoment at the National Television Awards when your bra was revealed. Which is your favourite bra? And what is Richard's favourite undergarment – boxers, Y-fronts or a thong?
Ali Chapman, by e-mail

J: Bog-standard M&S, thanks very much.

R: I wear nothing under my trousers, hence my slow and careful use of fly zips.

The first live test of Viagra on This Morning was rather smutty. Do you feel proud or penitent?
Sandra James, Goring-by-Sea

J: The live test of Viagra was good humoured and of the moment – Viagra was the story of the day and we used the medium we inhabited to see if it worked.

R: One newspaper published a headline: "Is this the tawdriest moment on British television?'' We knew it wasn't and had the words printed on limited-edition T-shirts. Not penitent or proud; just relaxed.

Richard, have you ever seen Alistair McGowan's impersonation of you? Do you find it amusing or accurate?
Paul Symes, Higham

R: Many times – he's done it on the show. At first I found it eerie. I never thought I had enough mannerisms to be impersonated, but now I wonder if I should be sectioned – Alistair has put me on the fine line between eccentricity and lunacy. So amusing, but unsettling.

When you were writing your autobiography, did you edit each other's chapters? Were there any surprises in each other's sections?
Iva Williamson, Chester

J: We didn't read each others' stuff until the book went to press. We trusted each other. There were surprises for us both – I'll leave you to work out what they were. I will say that Richard got Jack's birth weight wrong.

R: Guilty. A shock I got from Judy's was that she thought I flirted with the idea of doing myself in during the Tesco debacle in 1990 to 1991 [Madeley was charged with shoplifting from his local store, but later acquitted]. Suicide was not in my mind, although murder was, now and then.

Children are easily embarrassed by their parents. How do your children feel about seeing you on TV?
Fiona Hawkes, High Wycombe

R: All kids are embarrassed by mum and dad, and ours are no exception. We've been on TV since before they were born, so they're not embarrassed specifically by that.

J: As far as press sniping and gossip is concerned, they're as inoculated as we are. They see us sighing or laughing at a headline and take their cue from that.

Critics suggest the fate of Richard and Judy is in the balance: do you have your next career moves mapped out?
Rebe Walker, by e-mail

R: If our show hung in the balance, why would we be coming back?

J: Halfway through our old two-year This Morning contracts, journalists would ask: "What's after that?'' It's the same answer now as then: "I dunno!''

As trained journalists, do you hanker for hard news?
Toni Anderson, Rugby

J: No – our show has an agenda to cover breaking news and we do, most weeks.

R: We've often been ahead of the early-evening bulletins.

Is television institutionally sexist?
Pam Grisham, Chichester

J: Yes.

R: Yes.

I've found maintaining 15 years of marriage hard enough out of the spotlight. How do you manage it?
Debbie Hardman, Manchester

R: It's in the book!

J: It is, but the spotlight doesn't make any difference after a while. You love each other or you don't. We've just been lucky.

Richard, you are a good-looking man let down by an outmoded haircut. Isn't it time you had an image update?
Susan Jones, by e-mail

R: Your brutal frankness is matched only by the brutal haircut I submitted myself to after our last show of the last season. People no longer recognise me; even old friends pass me by in the street.

J: I can see it's a style improvement, but privately I prefer him with long, shaggy hair.

'Richard & Judy: The Autobiography' is published by Hodder & Stoughton, price £17.99. The TV show 'Richard and Judy' is on Channel 4 every weekday at 5pm

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