Richard Madeley’s first marriage didn’t go to plan, with the GMB star admitting he "wasn’t ready for it"09:37, 04 Aug 2026Richard Madeley is a firm favourite on TV - but what went down between him and his first wife?‌The talented presenter and journalist has been a staple on screens for decades. From stints on This Morning to Good Morning Britain, Richard has remained booked and busy.‌And while he is best known for his marriage to Judy Finnigan, before finding love with Judy he was previously married to a woman named Lynda. The pair tied the knot in 1977 when Richard was 21 years old.‌Calling her “young, bubbly and pretty” Richard revealed to The Guardian in 2024 that he met Lynda when he worked at BBC Radio Carlisle and she lived in the flat below his.He added: “We went on a date and I clung to that relationship like a limpet. I was young, headstrong and romantic, and I talked her into marrying me.”‌However, their marriage ended in divorce, as according to Richard, he was "simply not mature enough". During an appearance on Matt Willis’ podcast, On The Mend, Richard opened up about his first marriage.“So, we [him and Judy] both know what it is to fail, and I certainly – and I always said this – I certainly blame myself for the failure of my first marriage because I got married… I simply got married too young. I was way too optimistic,” he said.When asked how old he was when he first walked down the aisle, Richard replied: “21; it’s just ridiculous. It’s too young, and it was very unfair on my first wife, Lynda, because I wasn’t ready for it, and I was simply not mature enough.”‌“I thought I was, but I wasn’t, and, you know, we both got our fingers burnt because of that.”Richard went on to find love with Judy who first clapped eyes on Richard when he joined her at Granada as a news presenter. Recalling their first meeting, Judy said: "I remember the first time I saw him. He walked into the newsroom and I was sitting at my desk at the other end.Article continues below“I remember exactly what he was wearing: a pale blue linen suit. I thought he looked nice. Tall, handsome and all that but I thought the suit was a bit flash. Then, because he was a newbie, I was assigned the job of looking after him."Richard and Judy married in 1986, they have been happily married ever since and have two children Chloe and Jack.Watch Richard on Good Morning Britain on ITV1.