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Richard Madeley Returns to GMB After Covid Illness as Past Health Issues Reenter Spotlight

His brief absence prompted renewed attention to previously disclosed issues, from hearing loss to long-term risks tied to past smoking.

Overview

  • The 69-year-old presenter missed two Good Morning Britain shows last week, was covered by ITV News editor Paul Brand, and returned saying he had been battling Covid.
  • Madeley previously said a 2024 Covid infection and a subsequent short flight led to a perforated right eardrum that left him deaf in one ear, affecting interviews until his hearing returned months later.
  • He has written that years of heavy smoking left him with a permanently impaired respiratory system and a higher cancer risk, despite quitting at 40 after interviewing the late journalist John Diamond.
  • Citing family deaths from heart attacks, he describes a preventative routine that includes frequent walking, diet vigilance, a daily cholesterol-lowering yoghurt, and regular health checks.
  • Madeley and his wife, Judy Finnigan, have spoken publicly about strong fears of dementia and say they would seek immediate medical assessment at the first signs.