Richard Madeley has candidly discussed his health struggles linked to a 20-year habit, confessing it puts him at increased risk of cancer.The Good Morning Britain host, 68, became a smoker despite his father dying from a smoking-related illness at the tender age of 49 - when Richard was just 21.He tried and failed to quit numerous times, but it was an impactful interview that finally helped him break free from cigarettes.The former Richard and Judy presenter found the resolve to quit after talking to John Diamond, journalist and first husband of Nigella Lawson, who tragically suffered from terminal throat cancer caused by smoking. READ MORE: Lorraine Kelly's brutal dig at ITV colleague Richard Madeley READ MORE: Richard Madeley tearful as he admits 'none of us saw it coming' over co-star death Richard was "so shaken" by the discussion that he swore off cigarettes completely.Despite having given up smoking many years ago at 40, the aftermath of the habit persists.
Richard admits that he has a lasting weakened respiratory system and a higher cancer risk than people who have never smoked.
In his column for the Daily Express, Madeley wrote about his personal journey.He explained: "Cigarettes killed my father at 49 (I was 21 when he died).
Yet still I continued to smoke, despite numerous attempts to give up."I finally managed to stop aged 40, after interviewing John Diamond, Nigella Lawson's first husband, who was dying (horribly) from smoking-induced throat cancer.