What do Richard and Judy think about their marriage, their former ITV bosses, their current Channel 4 paymasters and the BBC licence fee? And what do you think of them?
In a MediaGuardian interview today, the Channel 4 teatime hosts are asked: do they regret revealing so much about their marriage and family life on camera?
Richard:
"That's really more a question for Judy as I'm the one who's routinely accused of saying more than is appropriate or suitable."
Before Judy has a chance to speak, Richard continues:
"Put it this way, if we did reveal too much of ourselves, I suppose the corollary of that question is 'for your own good', then we wouldn't be together still."
What do they think of their former ITV paymasters?
Judy:
"I think like a lot of big corporations, ITV didn't like the fact that one particular aspect of their product was too closely identified with individuals. In ITV's eyes, This Morning was not Richard & Judy, and neither was it in our eyes. But the public increasingly called [the show] Richard & Judy. We know from reported conversations that that began to really nark ITV."
And their new bosses at Channel 4?
Richard:
"We knew coming here was a fucking risk and it nearly didn't work. Up till then the press had been pretty good. But our first show for Channel 4 was shit."
Judy:
"Channel 4 were very keen to make it different from This Morning. They asked us to do things we weren't very happy with and it just didn't work at first."
And the BBC?
Richard:
"My feeling is that the BBC should not be publicly funded. I can see all the arguments for it, but personally I think it's because the BBC is publicly-funded that it is a distorting influence on the market. It's extraordinary, how much do we pay for a TV licence now? It's fucking ridiculous that in order to watch all our favourite programmes on other channels we should be taxed to watch one service."
Judy:
"I am glad there is the BBC. I think public funding in broadcasting is very important. Otherwise we'll just get crap, Richard, crap after crap."
But Richard wants the last word:
"I disagree entirely. I think a lot of the BBC schedule is crap. They do just as many poor quality programmes. And take a massive BBC hit like Strictly Come Dancing - a huge family favourite, a wonderful, warm programme. You don't have to be publicly funded to make a programme like that."
Fair comment? Or the sort of nonsense Richard is often accused of spouting?
