Richard and Judy win most critics' approval

Daytime TV icons Richard and Judy today received a largely positive reaction from the critics on their return to the nation’s screens.

Reviewers said the new Channel 4 show was little different from This Morning, the ITV programme the couple hosted for 13 years before switching stations this summer in a shock move.

The new five-times-a-week live programme, The Richard and Judy Show, had the couple back in familiar territory as they presented a mix of phone-ins, interviews and competitions largely from the comfort of a plush sofa.

Finnigan turned the tables on Madeley as she kicked off the show in a spoof of their first This Morning show - when he belittlingly introduced his co-host as his wife.

She got her own back by telling viewers as their new series opened: ‘‘I’m Judy Finnigan and this is my husband Richard Madeley - I’ve been wanting to say that for years.’’

Both looked slightly on edge as they fronted the show which included Holden and Dennis in their first TV interview together since their marriage hit a rocky patch last year.

A phone-in featured callers talking about matters of scruples which prompted Madeley to admit he had once pretended to his partner that he had given up smoking.

There was an item about becoming fit by the power of thought, along with a £7,000 competition called You Say We Pay, where contestants have to describe a series of objects or celebrities for the couple to guess.

After the broadcast, Madeley said: ‘‘It was absolutely fantastic back doing what we enjoy most - a live magazine programme, hopefully the first of many.’’

Finnigan said: ‘‘I really enjoyed it. Nerve-wracking though a first show always is, it went by in a flash and although the first one is over, I’m already looking forward to show two tomorrow.’’