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Richard Madeley shares his Olivia Newton-John anecdote after 'Grease' star dies aged 73

Watch: Richard Madeley shares his Olivia Newton-John anecdote

Richard Madeley contributed to commemorating Dame Olivia Newton-John by admitting he had never met her, but did remember looking at her poster.

Following the news that the Grease star has died at the age of 73, the Good Morning Britain presenter interviewed her close friend, the actor Jane Seymour.

As Seymour shared her personal memories of Dame Olivia, Madeley chipped in: "I wish I’d met her, I wish I’d interviewed her - it never happened.

Read more: Richard Madeley's 6 most ridiculous Good Morning Britain moments

"I always regretted it actually as the years went by."

The 66-year-old host continued: "But that publicity picture, I don’t know if you can see it on your end, let’s see that again, the one with the denim shirt…

Richard Madeley hosting Good Morning Britain.
Richard Madeley pays tribute to Olivia Newton-John by admitted he never met her. (ITV)

"There’s a picture we’re showing of her here, it was a very famous poster of her in the 1970s.

"She’s just looking at the camera, she’s backlit by sunshine, her hair’s down, she’s wearing a denim shirt...

"And I was saying earlier in the programme that that poster was on the wall of a radio station I used to work in back in the 1970s and, I’m not exaggerating, it basically stopped traffic in the corridors.

"It was up there for months and even after months, the guys would just stop and look at it.

Olivia Newton-John 1978 promotional photo for the ABC tv special 'Olivia!'
Richard Madeley recalled gazing at a poster of Olivia Newton-John, who has died aged 73. (Getty Images)

"And (they) just get lost in her beauty and I would have loved to have told her that."

The singer, actor and philanthropist, died on Monday 8 August 8 after a long struggle with breast cancer, her husband John Easterling announced via her official Facebook page.

Seymour told GMB: "She was a really special person. She changed the world I think in many ways. Especially in terms of what she did with cancer. Instead of hiding things in her life, she opened up and said 'Hey this is what I've got, this is what's happening and this is what it looks like'.

Olivia Newton-John and Jane Seymour attend the 2019 Industry Dance Awards.
Jane Seymour shared memories of her close friend Olivia Newton-John on GMB. (Getty Images)

"She was very open. She cared about everybody else, she made a huge difference. Her legacy is extraordinary. Not just as a performer but as a friend and a champion of people who are dealing with cancer."

Several viewers commented on Twitter that Madeley's anecdote about Dame Olivia was yet another example of him much he is like fictional chat show host Alan Partridge.

Joe tweeted: "Richard Madeley explaining how he & male colleagues used to just stare at a poster of Olivia Newton John is the most Partridge I've ever seen him."

Olivia Newton-John pictured in February 2021
Olivia Newton-John pictured in February 2021, has died aged 73, following a long battle with cancer. (Getty Images)

It is not the first time Madeley has been likened to Steve Coogan's hapless comedy character.

Read more: Richard Madeley speaks out on Alan Partridge comparisons

The GMB presenter said in 2021 he found the comparisons "funny".