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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Jasmine Allday

Richard Madeley felt 'ashamed' and a failure for hitting his kids when they were young

Richard Madeley felt like a "failure" for smacking his children when they were young.

The Good Morning Britain presenter took part in a debate on the ITV breakfast show today, as he, Susanna Reid and two guests discussed where parents should smack their children or not.

It comes as Wales plan to make smacking children illegal from March 21, with Richard - who has Jack, now 35, and Chloe, 34, with his wife Judy Finnigan - confessing he felt "ashamed" of smacking his kids in the past.

During the debate, Richard shared: "For full disclosure, when my children were growing up, I certainly never used a stick.

Chloe Madeley, Richard Madeley, Judy Finnegan and Jack Madeley (WireImage)

"But once or twice, I think with Jack - he was the first born - I think I sort of tapped his bottom a couple of times with the flat of my hand. Do you know what? I always thought that was a point of failure, my failure. I felt ashamed of it."

Earlier in the chat, he also revealed his own dad had hit him growing up, as he admitted he had "mixed feelings" about the topic.

"I've got mixed feelings about this, I'll tell you why," he began, "I've gone public about this before. When I was a little boy, I was hit quite a lot by my dad, who I love very much and was a great father.

He shared his own experiences during the debate on Good Morning Britain (ITV)

"It was typical of the day, we're talking about the 1960s but I was hit with a stick. Reflecting on it now, if it had been outlawed then, I wouldn't have been hit and he wouldn't have broken the law. Is that the knock on effect?

"That it would prevent parents and make them think if this ban was to be introduced."

Last week, Richard was joined on Good Morning Britain by his son-in-law James Haskell, who confirmed he and Chloe were expecting their first child - and Richard's fourth grandchild.

Richard admitted he had hit his kids in the past (ITV)

"Before we go on, can I just say a huge thank you to all of you who sent such really lovely messages yesterday, after we announced the impending birth of my… fifth, fourth is it? Fourth grandchild, a daughter," he said on the show.

"James Haskell, Chloe’s husband was here and he announced it. You all flooded in with just lovely comments."

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