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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Lewis Knight

Richard Madeley opens up about how he was 'badly beaten' by his dad as a child

Television presenter Richard Madeley has open up about being beaten by his father as a child.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, 63, discussed his experience during a debate on smacking children on the show today.

As TV host Sarah Cawood advocated the smacking of children as a method of discipline, Richard opened up about his own past.

Richard said: "I was badly beaten as a child by my dad. When I look back to my childhood, most of my friends, I got the cane several times.

"And I was seriously beaten..."

Richard discussed his experiences in an emotive debate on smacking (ITV)

He continued by describing his experience with discipline at school: "I got three strokes...for throwing a paper dart.

"The scars lasted six months and I am still angry about it."

Despite her advocating of smacking, Sarah did admit her own errors in the past.

"I walloped my kids in the depths of post natal depression and I regret that," she said.

Richard predicts change is coming (ITV)

The debate comes following actor Martin Freeman's admission of smacking his own children and calling them "little f**kers.

Martin told The Sunday Times: "One of the rules is, don’t smack your kids or call them little f**kers. But, you know, I’ve done both."

As the Good Morning Britain viewers' poll came out at 63 per cent in favour of smacking, Richard voiced his prediction for the future to co-host Ranvir Singh.

Richard noted: "I tell you what Ranvir, I bet you the yeses go down in ten years' time.

"I think that's the path we're on. That's why we're having the debate now."

Good Morning Britain airs on weekday mornings on ITV.

What are your thoughts on the issue of smacking? Let us know in the comments below.

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