Richard and Judy: Tension at home, with Judy desperate for some freedom
It seems Judy Finnigan is desperate for freedom from life at home with husband Richard Madeley
Like many people, Judy Finnigan has spent the best part of 12 months cooped up at home with her husband – and she’s ready to be released!
Now she’s had the COVID-19 vaccine, the TV presenter wants to restart her life, but constant bumps in the road are having an effect on her mood.
FEELING FRUSTRATED
Having had her vaccine in January, Judy, 72, had hoped to spend the summer in Cornwall. But it looks like the country’s roadmap out of lockdown isn’t going to be quite that straightforward, leaving her frustrated, and causing some tension with husband Richard Madeley, 64. She insists, ‘The constant anxiety these reports cause makes all of us edgy and anxious. What’s the point of a brilliant vaccine rollout if we’re not allowed to make our own choices about where we go?’ And Judy is fed up with being told her trips to the Cornish seaside are ‘not necessary’. She says, ‘A holiday isn’t a privilege; it’s a necessity, and it’s no more wicked than buying a pair of shoes. Holidays are good for the soul. Dreaming of one, and planning it, can carry you through months of dreary drudgery.’
Luckily, after being married for 35 years, Richard knows what to do when his wife is feeling on edge. Previously hinting at their struggles, he said, ‘In all marriages, things can occasionally get tense. You can get a bit snappy with each other, especially if you’re together 24/7.
‘The only tip I’d give is to step away, go to another room, read a book, go for a walk. Try and give each other space, because everybody’s going to be a bit on edge at the moment. You’ve got to try to be understanding and accepting of that.’
ITCHING TO ESCAPE
Judy confessed to feeling like she was being ‘treated like a child’ during the first wave of the pandemic when she was
forced to shield thanks to her age. And it seems not much has changed. ‘When will they allow us a smile of happiness after a terrible year?’ she said. So it’s no surprise that the former
This Morning presenter is itching to get away to one of her happy places – either Cornwall or the couple’s holiday home in Saint-paul-de-vence in France.
With much of their TV work forcing them to spend time in London, Richard and Judy’s homes away from home have become great escapes for the couple.
‘Judy is never happier than when they’re pottering around a French market, completely anonymous and with no appointments in the diary,’ says our source. ‘She’s worked hard all of her life and wants to enjoy her retirement.’
AT LOGGERHEADS?
Richard, on the other hand, will no doubt have his mind elsewhere, counting down to when he can line up more work – which could also be rubbing Judy up the wrong way.
While Judy happily hung up her presenting boots back in 2018, Richard still loves to dabble in TV work and is, according to an insider, ‘Constantly waiting for the next call.’
It’s clear that the couple are on different paths when it comes to what the next few years will look like – with Judy keen to embrace the ‘quiet life’ and Richard unable to ‘bear the thought of retirement’. So, with normality slowly resuming, can these two come up with a compromise?
‘CONSTANT ANXIETY MAKES ALL OF US EDGY’