Richard Madeley is 70 years old as of October 2026. He was born on 13 May 1956 in Romford, Essex, England . The veteran British television presenter remains a familiar face on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, where his direct interviewing style continues to generate headlines .
The question of how old Richard Madeley is has become more complicated than it should be because some official records list his birth year as 1957 rather than 1956. The Library of Congress and the National Library of Israel both catalogue him under the earlier date . However, the stronger evidence supports 1956. IMDb lists 13 May 1956 , and a 2025 Mirror article marking his birthday confirmed he turned 69 on 13 May 2025, which places his birth year at 1956 . Recent reports from 2026 also describe him as 70 .
Madeley’s path into television was unconventional. He left school at 16 to become a cub reporter on a local newspaper, and by 19 he was working as a deputy editor while also joining BBC local radio . He later moved through Border Television, Yorkshire Television, and Granada Television, where he covered the Peter Sutcliffe serial murders as a reporter . That Granada role proved pivotal for reasons beyond journalism: it was there that he met fellow reporter Judy Finnigan, who would become both his wife and his most famous on-screen partner .
The couple married in 1986 and launched This Morning on ITV in 1988 . Their relaxed, conversational presenting style turned the programme into a daytime institution, with audiences regularly reaching around 2 million viewers . The show won multiple National Television Awards for Best Daytime Show, including wins in 1998, 1999, and 2000 . After 13 years at ITV, Madeley and Finnigan moved to Channel 4 in 2001 for their own teatime programme, Richard & Judy, which ran for eight years .Quick Bio: Richard Madeley
Note: The birth year is based on consistent recent reporting confirming his 70th birthday on 13 May 2026. Some library records list 1957, but the 1956 date is supported by his own public acknowledgements and mainstream media coverage.
Working alongside a spouse for that long inevitably created friction. Madeley has spoken candidly about how he and Finnigan would sometimes row on the way to the studio. Speaking on Good Morning Britain in 2026, he admitted that they would arrive at work and “wouldn’t talk” before the cameras started rolling, at which point they would become “all eyes and teeth” . Finnigan has offered a warmer perspective on their partnership. “Obviously, I think working together for so long has bonded us more tightly than if we had two completely separate jobs,” she said on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast . Madeley described their current dynamic as “semi-detached” professionally, though he insisted they remain close privately .
Since Finnigan stepped back from television, Madeley has forged a distinctive solo career. He joined Good Morning Britain as a guest presenter in 2017 and became a more permanent fixture from 2022 . His interviews are known for their combative energy. In August 2026, he clashed with Labour minister Chris McDonald over the government’s prison early release scheme, telling him that a “PR nightmare” was “coming down the tracks” . Days later, he pressed Conservative MP Chris Philp on whether the previous government bore any responsibility for the prison crisis, asking repeatedly whether Philp would “take any responsibility at all” . Such exchanges have made Madeley a divisive but undeniably watchable presence on morning television.
Beyond broadcasting, Madeley has built a parallel career as an author. He has written three Sunday Times top ten bestsellers and has worked on a fourth novel . He and Finnigan also ran the influential Richard & Judy Book Club in association with WHSmith from 2010, a venture that significantly boosted sales for the featured titles . The book club demonstrated that their cultural influence extended well beyond the television screen, shaping reading habits for a broad British audience.
For readers wondering how old Richard Madeley is, the answer sits at the centre of a small factual dispute. The 1956 birth date is supported by his own birthday acknowledgements and consistent recent reporting, while the 1957 date appears in library authority records that may have propagated an early error. What is not in dispute is his longevity in an industry that rewards reinvention. At 70, he remains employed, discussed, and occasionally argued with on national television, a trajectory that few of his contemporaries from the 1988 launch of This Morning could claim to have matched.
How old is Richard Madeley and when is his birthday?
Richard Madeley was born on 13 May 1956 and is 70 years old as of October 2026 . While some library records list 1957, his birthday is consistently celebrated on 13 May, and recent reports confirm his age as 70 .
Is Richard Madeley still presenting on Good Morning Britain?
Yes, but only part-time. He continues to appear as a guest presenter on Good Morning Britain, a role he has held since 2017. However, he has stated he has no desire to become a full-time anchor like Piers Morgan was .
What shows are Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan famous for?
The couple launched This Morning on ITV in 1988 and hosted it for 13 years. They then moved to Channel 4 for their own teatime programme, Richard & Judy, which ran for eight years .
What is Richard Madeley’s relationship with Judy Finnigan like now?
They remain married and close, though their professional lives are separate. Madeley describes their current dynamic as “semi-detached,” while Finnigan has said working together for so long bonded them “more tightly” .
Has Richard Madeley written any books?
Yes. He is a Sunday Times top ten bestselling author, having written three novels. His publisher biography notes he is working on a fourth novel .
