MADE IT
Richard Madeley returns to GMB after ‘bad’ birthday celebrations and jokes ‘I’m lucky to be alive’
RICHARD Madeley returned to Good Morning Britain today after turning 66 on Friday 13.
The veteran broadcaster reluctantly acknowledged the occasion after wishing co-star Charlotte Hawkins a happy 47th birthday.
2
Richard lamented: "I'm not going to say how old I was, but it was a bad one for me on Friday. At my age they're all bad."
Susanna Reid and Charlotte disagreed, calling it a "blessing".
But Richard laughed: "What, I'm lucky to still be alive?"
Susanna added: "Think of the alternative..."
READ MORE ON GMB
It's Richard's wife Judy's birthday today too, prompting him to say May is a "good day" for birthdays.
Later in the show Richard and Susanna reflected on the amazing amount of money Dame Deborah James has raised this week for research into bowel cancer.
He said: "We do love you, Deborah. Even those who have never met you. We think you're wonderful."
The hero campaigner initially hoped to raise £250,000 for Cancer Research UK after revealing she was receiving end-of-life-care, but today she smashed her target by more than 24 times.
Most read in News TV
The 40-year-old has had a whirlwind of a week since telling her Instagram fans on Monday that her body "simply isn't playing ball" and she would no longer be having active bowel cancer treatment.
Instead, she is receiving hospice care at her parents' home in Woking, Surrey.
But since then, she has been awarded a Damehood by Prince William and received thousands of donations for being "an inspiration to the world".
And in the last few hours, offerings have surged to tip her over a staggering £6m.
2
Topics