Judy Finnigan, 78, and her beloved husband Richard Madeley, 70, were spotted enjoying a rare, sunlit afternoon in London on Friday, stepping out for a chic lunch at the legendary Simpson’s in the Strand. The iconic TV couple, who will mark an extraordinary 40 years of marriage this November, appeared happier than ever, strolling arm-in-arm with effortless ease and smiles that spoke volumes.
Judy turned heads in a soft pink blazer layered over a coordinating blouse and dark trousers, her ensemble elevated with a pale pink handbag and a bold gold necklace. Richard complemented her perfectly in a sharp navy suit, crisp white shirt, and burnt-orange tie — a picture of classic sophistication.
The couple, parents to daughter Chloe, 38, and son Jack, 40, along with Judy’s twin sons Tom and Dan Henshaw from her first marriage, have long been celebrated not just for their on-screen charisma but for their enduring personal bond.
Their love story traces back to the 1980s at ITV Granada Television. Judy, then married to journalist David Henshaw, was assigned as Richard’s “minder” when he arrived as a newcomer — a role she recalls with humor. “I remember you walking into the newsroom on your first day in a ridiculous sky-blue suit,” she joked in a 2024 Channel 5 documentary. “They assigned me as your mother… literally. And I was your mother.”
Richard laughed recalling the memory: “I felt hands on the back of my neck and heard a voice saying, ‘I’m your mummy.’ I turned around and it was this beautiful blonde… it was bizarre, but somehow perfect.”
Their first kiss came later, after a long day of filming promos in Blackpool. In the quiet darkness of a black cab returning to Manchester, sparks flew, and a lifelong partnership was born.
Reflecting on their marriage, Chloe told Closer magazine in 2024: “They say the secret is simply… not getting divorced. There have been struggles, of course, but they always chose to stay together. I truly hit the jackpot with my parents.”
Even amid decades of fame, challenges, and life’s twists, Judy and Richard remain a shining example of love’s longevity — proving that some partnerships are truly built to last.
