Television presenter Richard Madeley raised concern last week when he missed Good Morning Britain due to illness. The 69-year-old broadcaster has since revealed that he had contracted Covid-19, a virus that previously caused him serious health complications.
In early 2024, Richard disclosed that a Covid infection he caught in France resulted in significant hearing loss in one ear, complicating his ability to present live. He described the “big mistake” that worsened his condition: after he was no longer infectious, he took a short-haul flight home. This caused a build-up of fluid behind his right eardrum to burst due to cabin pressure changes. Though his hearing consultant reassured him perforated eardrums typically heal on their own, Richard endured months of impaired hearing.
He explained, “Conversations were now peppered with: ‘Pardon?’ ‘What?’ ‘Say again?’ ‘Speak up!’ It drove my wife mad, and with deafness on one side, my world felt permanently off-kilter. Try walking around with a finger stuck in one ear and you’ll understand.” Richard resorted to lip-reading interviews on Good Morning Britain and pretended to follow conversations in busy places until, after five months, his hearing miraculously returned overnight.
READ MORE: Customer Abandons Winning Lottery Scratchcard, Only for Another Shopper to Claim £760,000 Prize
READ MORE: Dr Michael Mosley’s Widow Reveals ‘World’s Healthiest Diet’ That Aids Weight Loss
Richard, a former smoker with a “very addictive personality,” also opened up about quitting cigarettes after interviewing journalist John Diamond, who died from smoking-related throat cancer. Despite finally giving up smoking at age 40, he revealed lasting damage to his respiratory system and an elevated cancer risk. “Cigarettes killed my father at 49; yet I continued to smoke despite trying to quit many times,” he reflected. “Though I stopped over 25 years ago, my respiratory health remains permanently impaired.”
With a family history marked by heart attacks in his grandfather, father, and uncle, Richard has remained vigilant about his health. He attributes their deaths more to lifestyle choices than genetics and takes proactive steps to reduce his risk. His daily routine includes walking over 10,000 steps, carefully monitoring his diet, and consuming a cholesterol-lowering yogurt daily. “I’m active around the house, rarely sitting down,” he said. On The Dr Hilary Show podcast, Richard shared, “My blood pressure is very good, cholesterol is low, and I take a supermarket-bought statin in the form of yogurt daily, alongside regular health checks.”
Richard and his wife, Judy Finnigan, have also voiced concerns about dementia. Richard admits the condition “frightens me in ways death doesn’t,” and the couple frequently monitor their memory for early signs. Judy noted that increased life expectancy comes with new anxieties, with dementia now being the leading cause of death in the UK. Both said they would urgently seek medical advice if they noticed any symptoms.
Together, their openness highlights the challenges of managing health battles, the impacts of past habits, and the importance of early intervention.