Richard Madeley recently disclosed that he used to smoke 60 cigarettes daily in secret and shared the pivotal moment that led him to quit the harmful habit. The 69-year-old presenter, known for his TV appearances alongside his wife Judy Finnigan, admitted to having an extremely addictive nature, which deterred him from experimenting with drugs due to his heavy smoking addiction.
During an interview on the “On The Mend” podcast with Busted star Matt Willis, Richard revealed his past smoking habits, stating that he never delved into using drugs as he feared falling into a similar addictive pattern. He highlighted his struggle with smoking, reaching a peak of consuming three packs, equivalent to 60 cigarettes, per day until he turned 40.
Richard emphasized the dangers of cigarettes, drawing a parallel to illicit substances, and recalled how he began smoking at 16 while working as a reporter when smoking was prevalent in the early 1970s newsrooms. The turning point for him came when he interviewed Nigella Lawson’s late husband, John Diamond, who battled throat and mouth cancer attributed to smoking. Witnessing Diamond’s suffering firsthand prompted Richard to quit smoking for good.
Reflecting on the impact of Diamond’s ordeal, Richard shared a poignant moment from their conversation that led to his decision to quit smoking. He vividly recounted the distressing state of Diamond’s health and the realization that he did not want to face a similar fate due to smoking. Consequently, he disposed of his remaining cigarettes and has refrained from smoking ever since.