Fern Britton was left red-faced during an interview with ex-death row prisoner Kenny Richey after she got parts of his background story wrong on live TV. The bubbly presenter tried her best to continue the awkward interview, even after stern-faced Richey corrected her several times about the circumstances which led to him being jailed for murder.
Last week Scottish-born Richey walked free from an American prison after spending 21 years on death row when a judge found him guilty of causing a house fire which killed a young girl back in 1986.
Richey had always maintained his innocence and last month he pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to time already served.
But as Fern, 50, tried to recap the events, she repeatedly got her facts wrong.
Firstly she read her notes and said Richey lived in Minnesota. "No it was Ohio," replied Richey, 43.
Then Fern continued to say Richey lived in the same block of flats as his ex-girlfriend. "No I never had a girlfriend there," Richey quickly hit back.
"Ok somebody you had a liaison with," said Fern, which Richey remarked was a better way to phrase it.
Fern, who has been interviewing people on the This Morning couch for nine years, said Kenny also lived in the same block of flats as the victim and her mother. "No they lived in a separate building," said Richey.
"Ok good well you're giving us information we don't know so that's very useful," replied the TV host.
To spare any more blushes, fellow TV host Phillip Schofield stepped in to carry on the interview and Richey revealed the prison wardens often played mind games with him. "There was one time they were about to stop us getting food boxes in," he said.
"My mum had sent me a box full of Scottish goodies and I was looking forward to it coming and there was a sergeant who had got the box and he told me I would get it in a week, so a week later I asked him again and he said there was no such box.
"I later found out that it had been sent back to my mum and when she opened it, half the contents were eaten and they'd thrown the empty packets back in."
Richey then quashed rumours that he was an hour away from being executed and had his head shaved ready for the execution.
"I've been trying to tell people but they don't want to listen they think the lies sound better."
He revealed he accepted the second plea bargain to get out and return to see his father who is dying of cancer. He also admitted that he has contemplated taking his own life since leaving prison. "The fact that it would hurt my family more is what would stop me," he said.
Richey also revealed he feels stuck in a time warp since leaving prison. "I'm still living in 1986 and had my first experience with a cell phone the other day, which is confusing but I'll cope, I coped on death row."
He then said ex-Blue Peter presenter Diane-Louise Jordan is helping him to adjust to 21st century Britain.
"He needs somebody he can turn to at any time night or day and thats what I've been doing," said Jordan who is now a confidence coach.
By Owen Williams, Jan 15 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy
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