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Charisma and cosiness: How 'This Morning' hosts Richard, Judy and co charmed a nation

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In 1988, on the set of a new daytime programme called This Morning a boyishly handsome presenter sat in a Liverpool dockside Studio and announced: "I am Richard Madeley and this is my wife Judy Finnigan".

The couple didn't know it yet and neither did their audience, but they were creating TV history. A key ingredient in the success of show which celebrates 25 years in October, was undoubtedly the hosts. 

They had to be warm yet ask difficult questions and switch effortlessly from harrowing human dramas to light fluffy topics. On screen they acted like any normal couple, bickering and telling embarrassing stories about each other, Judy often rolling her eyes at Richard.

The husband and wife team became so popular that like Oprah they didn't need surnames. Those that followed Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, Eamonn Holmes, Fern Britton, Ruth Langsford, agony aunt Denise Richardson and Dr Chris Steele brought a similar mix of charisma, cosiness and trustworthiness that viewers warmed.

Look back at the presenters that have made the show what it is over the years in this HELLO! Online report.