Richard and Judy to interview Clinton

Former US President Bill Clinton is to give an interview to Richard and Judy, it was announced today.

The presenters are set to grill him on his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. They want to focus on questions about his personal life rather than politics.

Clinton's wife Hillary has already appeared on the daytime Channel 4 show.

Now the former President has granted the pair the first interview of his UK tour next month to promote his autobiography, My Life.

"Like a lot of British TV programmes we've had Bill Clinton in our sights for a long time," said Richard Madeley.

"Interviews with important world leaders like Clinton often have a tendency to get bogged down in the minutiae of their political record. In the time we have with Bill Clinton we'll try to draw out his inner character, to discuss what really makes him tick."

Judy Finnigan added: "Clinton is an enormously charismatic character and we hope to concentrate on what he's like as a man, rather than a narrow interview just about politics.

"We've always wanted to interview him and have been even keener to have him on our show since we interviewed Hillary."

The ex-President will appear on the show on July 12.

Last month he was interviewed in the US for the BBC's Panorama programme.

He became visibly angry with presenter David Dimbleby when questioned repeatedly about his affair.

He accused Dimbleby and other journalists of trying to "hurt people", telling him: "You like to talk about how bad people are and all their personal failings."