Richard & Judy leaving the ITV studios in London
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Richard and Judy return to TV for This Morning’s 30th anniversary documentary

The one-off documentary features a string of famous faces

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Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan will revisit their This Morning roots in a new one-off documentary to mark the show’s 30th anniversary.

The programme’s original hosts will join current presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield alongside a slew of other big names to honour the milestone occasion in October.

While viewers regularly see Richard, 62, on TV these days covering on Good Morning Britain, it’s been a long time since Judy, 70, appeared on the box.

Earlier this year, the couple’s daughter Chloe said Judy had effectively “retired from television”.

Read more: Holly and Phil announce This Morning’s special award

Chloe told The Sun: “My mum is done with TV and if she went back to it I don’t think it would make her happy. She wants to concentrate on other things, such as her health and our family.”

Richard and Judy fronted ITV daytime’s flagship programme This Morning from 1988 until 2001.

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan leaving the ITV studios, London
Judy and Richard pictured in 2012 at ITV studios (Credit: Splash)

After quitting This Morning, the couple moved to Channel 4 in 2001, where they had a 5pm chat show called Richard and Judy. The programme moved to the channel Watch in 2008, but ended in 2009.

In 2014, Judy became a panellist on ITV’s Loose Women, appearing several times until 2015. She also hosted the series We Can Work It Out.

Off-screen, she’s written two best-selling novels, and collaborated with Richard on an autobiography.

ITV
Richard serves as a relief presenter on Good Morning Britain (Credit: ITV)

The one-off documentary to mark This Morning’s 30th anniversary, called This Morning – 30 Unforgettable Years, will be narrated by Joanna Lumley and also feature Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford and Fern Britton.

There will also be contributions from Hugh Jackman, Robbie Williams, Simon Cowell, Kate Winslet, David Gandy, Amanda Holden, Bradley Walsh plus a host of other stars.

The 90-minute documentary will look back at This Morning’s headline-making moments over the years, and how it kick started the careers of some of the country’s biggest television faces.

Holly W and Phillip S on This Morning
Holly and Phil will also take part in the documentary (Credit: ITV)

Executive Producer, Sue Walton said: “Generations have grown up with This Morning, and its influence cannot be underestimated – on viewers and on what we watch. It’s the perfect moment to highlight the impact of one of the country’s longest running shows.”

ITV’s Commissioning Editor, Nicola Lloyd said: “It’s so easy to get lost in clip after clip of the laughs and bloopers that frequently happen on This Morning. I can’t wait to indulge in a full 90 mins of backstage gossip and memorable archive.”

An air date has yet to be announced.

Meanwhile, it’s also been announced that This Morning will be given a special BAFTA in recognition of its enduring success over the last 30 years.

The award will be handed over at a special event on October 1, attended by Holly, Phil, Richard and Judy, which will be filmed and uploaded to the BAFTA website.

Will you be watching the documentary? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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