Confirmed: Richard and Judy Return to ITV

As we reported on August 26 this year, Richard and Judy will return to ITV as part of This Morning’s 21st anniversary celebrations this year. You can read our original report here. Friday hosts Emmon Holmes and Ruth Langsford confirmed on the programme today that the original hosts would be part of Monday’s programme to wallow in nostalga at 21 years of the daytime series.

 

Richard and Judy launched the programme in 1988 from the Albert Dock studios of Granada Television as a trial run of adult morning broadcasting which ITV had last attempted in the 1950s – to instant failure. The programme replaced the educational ITV Schools strand which switched to Channel 4. Critics said This Morning wouldn’t last, but it became an instant ratings winner for the channel.

 

Richard Madley and Judy Finnegan had previously co-hosted the local Granada news programme, with both hosts leaving their partners to unite off-screen too. Their faces were also familiar to viewers in a number of other ITV regions as well as Granada with Finnegan having worked for Anglia TV while Madley had graced Border and Yorkshire Television screens.

 

In 1991 the BBC launched a rival – Good Morning, which was presented by former TV-am, ATV and guest-hosts of This Morning; Anne Diamond and Nick Owen. In its early years Good Morning – from Pebble Mill in Birmingham – gave the ITV rival a run for its money. In 1993 it was constantly ahead of the commercial competitor, which Diamond was happy to point out on-screen. However after several revamps to the format and look of the programme ratings withered.

 

Diamond later suggested the BBC sabotaged the show – and it was ditched in 1996. In the same year This Morning moved from Liverpool to London to enable the show to feature more high-profile guests who had previously been unwilling to travel to the North West.

 

After 13 years the couple switched to Channel 4 to host their own chat show, Richard and Judy this switch was reported due to the hosts falling out with the then Head of ITV Daytime over the direction and content of the programme. Fearing an outburst Richard and Judy were not allowed to host the final edition of their series, leaving on the Thursday instead.

 

Richard and Judy will appear on Monday’s programme alongside new host Holly Willoby and regular Phillip Schofield. It is also reported other former presenters may have pre-recorded messages to the viewers as part of the celebration, these include Fern Britton who quit the show earlier this year.