Richard Madeley and Judy FinneganDes Lynam has suggested all is not well chez Richard and Judy. Along with Countdown co-presenter, Carol Vorderman, Des met Richard and Judy at a photo shoot for a magazine.

“Lovely couple, wonderful programme,” he said afterwards. “But they hate each other. In the whole hour that we were with them, they never said a word.”

Richard Madeley has denied the claims: “He’s obviously joking. Period. If anyone was to tell you that was true, they would be talking total bollocks.”

“He’s just winding the audience up. He’s been a guest on our show a few times and we see him at dos and we like him and he likes us.”