You ask the questions: Richard and Judy

(Such as: Richard and Judy, do you ever get sick of the sight of each other?)

Wednesday 13 January 1999 01:02 GMT
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The television presenter Judy Finnigan, 49, was born in Manchester. In 1988 she began presenting This Morning, which attracts 2 million viewers daily. Richard Madeley, 42, was born in Essex. He met Judy in 1982 when he joined Granada. They are now married, live in London, and have two children, Jack and Chloe. Judy has twin sons from her first marriage.

Do you talk about work in bed?

Jean Gleason, Brent

R and J: Sometimes.

When was your last big row? And who offered to make up first?

Chrissie Elliot, London W6

J: An absolute classic - what the kids should be allowed to watch on TV.

R: I was definitely at fault, so I was the one who had to apologise first. I'll get my own back, of course.

Do you get sick of the sight of each other, working and living together?

Greg Pearman, Dorset

J: We're always asked this - we in fact got to know each other at work, so it's never really seemed odd. We are genuinely happiest when we're together, and when we get home after a show we're able to give each other plenty of space. After 10 years of this it's hard to imagine it any other way. We're very happy.

Can you tell us something, however trivial, that you've never told each other?

Angela Mills, Peterborough

R: Yes, I used to be called Squeaky when I was at school.

J: That's incredible. So was I. And to think that no one ever knew.

Judy, does Richard wear pyjamas in bed?

Chris Williamson, Kent

No, he sleeps in the buff.

Richard, have you tested out Viagra? Did you like it?

Margaret McDowall, Epsom

R: No, Margaret - and the inference behind your question?

What single thing do you disagree over most?

Lewis Ferguson, Brighton

J: The volume of the car radio on our drive to work, when I'm trying to read my programme notes.

Who takes the most time in the bathroom in the morning?

Caitlin Wilson, Preston

R: I don' t think we've ever timed it, but we're both in and out like greased lightening because we get up as late as possible.

Judy, what's the most romantic gesture Richard has ever made?

Caroline Baldwin, Sheffield

J: One year, Richard made a miniature fountain and put it under the Christmas tree. Inside were two airline tickets to Rome for a long weekend. It was a beautiful trip.

Who has been your best/worst guest, and why?

Catherine Fielding, York

J: It's the same answer to both - and it only happened this week: Anna Chancellor, the actress from Four Weddings and a Funeral. She was absolutely lovely, but when we asked her why her character was nicknamed Duckface her answer couldn't have been more explicit - it involved replacing the first consonant of the name with the next one in the alphabet.

Why do you think students watch your show, albeit ironically?

Lizzie Foster, Nottingham

R: It's funny, but when we suggest that the huge number of students who watch the show do so ironically, they look baffled. I suppose some do, but our theory is that many are away from home for the first time and This Morning is like a surrogate family - a kind of home from home.

What do you miss most about Manchester?

Gavin Owen, Stockport

J: I was born and bred there so obviously I miss it the most. Although I feel very settled in our new house in London - it's been two-and-a- half years - I was very homesick at first and it was quite hard to understand exactly why. I suppose it was that it represented such a huge chunk of my life and I simply felt that I was putting a part of my life behind me.

R: It's funny, but I've spent exactly half my life in London and half in the North, much of it in Manchester. I do miss it, but on the occasions when I've gone back since we moved, it's in fact been oddly comforting to feel instantly so at home there. It's good to know there are two very different cities where I could comfortably live.

Who's your dream interviewee? Is it the same person for both of you?

Rob Cooke, Carshalton

We'd both dearly love to get the first joint interview with Bill and Hillary Clinton.

How do you relax?

Jo Millar, Essex

J: Reading's my great escape. Novels are my preferred form, although most afternoons I retreat with a pile of newspapers.

R: Reading for me too. I do like burning off adrenalin most afternoons by jumping on to my bike. It's the only form of physical exercise that doesn't bore me rigid.

What's your favourite television programme?

Zoe Crace, Camden

R and J: The Simpsons.

What do you think you'll be doing in 10 years' time?

Janey Bowers, Newcastle

R: The thing I've learnt after 20 years in television is that all plans are useless. Programmes that are right for you and for the audience are a bit like buses without numbers on. You get on in good faith and hope that they go to the right destination. The most successful programmes I've done - This Morning and Eye of the Storm - fell out of a clear blue sky.

J: I honestly haven't a clue. I've never had a career plan. I just do what I think I'll enjoy and hope the viewers do too.

Judy, what's the first thing Richard said to you this morning?

Alex Trent, Norbury

J: Do you want tea or hot chocolate?

Next Week

Send any questions you may want to put to professional socialite, columnist and `It Girl' Tara Palmer-Tomkinson to: You Ask The Questions, Features, The Independent, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL (fax 0171-293 2182; or e-mail yourquestions@independent.co.uk) by noon on Friday, 15 January

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