Good Morning Britain approached a controversial subject on this morning's show, asking viewers whether they thought it was okay to smack their children.
After actor Martin Freeman admitted to smacking his kids when they were younger and he'd been "impatient and at the end of his rope", the hosts put the question to viewers and a panel.
Scotland banned smacking in 2019 and smacking children is against the law in more than 60 countries worldwide - though smacking is currently legal in England.
The Office star Martin said there is too much pressure for parents to be perfect.
Host Ranvir Singh admitted to smacking her son when was younger after he ran off in a car park and she tried to get him to sit back in his car seat.
Richard Madeley said that as a child, he was beaten with a cane and didn't want to smack his children though his children said they remembered getting smacked occasionally when they were younger.
Guest Sarah Cawood said she believes smacking is okay as a last resort, especially when children are in "mortal danger" and said "you can't reason with toddlers".
She said when she was battling with post-natal depression, she had struck her children and deeply regretted it.
The NSPCC wants smacking banned as it may encourage bullying.
Guest Sian Grifffiths agreed with the NSPCC and wanted smacking to be banned, saying it is never acceptable.
In a poll put the viewers, 65% of people said they believed it was okay to smack their children with many people taking to Twitter to share their thoughts.
@suzysasha said: "Yes, a small smack on the bum is fine, beating is not.."
@Kevinbe48380272 said: "I was always getting smacked as a kid in the 80s .. never did me any harm and I still love my parents??"
Another Twitter user said: "Kids don’t respect anyone anymore #gmb"
Some were firmly against smacking.
@CarolJo40280743 said: "Oh my God! I can’t believe the survey shows 65% in favour of smacking (hitting). If it’s not OK to use violence against adults, why is it OK to hit children, especially as they are not able to fight back? Martin Freeman admitted that he did it when angry which is even worse!"
@ekitchener97 said: "I got smacked many of times & it did me no good just made me a very angry person throughout my childhood. I’d never in a million years think of hitting my kids."
@ALEXZZ__ said: "Is it ok if I smack a person I see in the street?"
@SueBar77 said: "There’s so may other strategies to use rather than smacking. Smacking is a reaction to poor behaviour not a response that’s considered. So then if your child hits a younger child what do you say?"
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