Richard Madeley has opened up about his difficult relationship with his father, revealing he was "badly beaten" as a child. The 63-year-old, who is currently presenting on Good Morning Britain, shared his personal experience during a debate on smacking children. "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," Richard said. "And I was seriously beaten..." He went on to discuss the punishments he would receive at school, saying: "I got three strokes for throwing a paper dart. The scars lasted six months and I am still angry about it." Richard added: "I swore I would never lay a finger on my kids and I didn't think I did, but I asked them and they both have thin memories of me smacking them on the bottom once or twice and I must have blanked it out."
Richard Madeley reveals he was hit by his father
Richard shares two children with his wife Judy Finnigan, Jack and Chloe. He is also a stepfather to twins from Judy's first marriage. He spoke briefly about 32-year-old Chloe on Monday’s show, as the GMB team paid a touching tribute to Caroline Flack. "My daughter Chloe knew her pretty well and I've never seen her so upset actually," he said. "Yesterday she was in a terrible state. As indeed obviously are Caroline's inner circle. And they are very angry, there's a lot of anger out there."
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Richard pictured with his daughter Chloe
Richard Arnold, meanwhile, told his co-presenters that Caroline "didn't just sizzle – she absolutely fizzed". "I was in total disbelief when I got the message from friends before I got it from various news outlets and platforms. My jaw just hit the floor. I couldn't quite believe it," he shared. "This is a woman who's clearly had her issues which she's spoken pretty frankly about and which were well documented. Caroline, when you were in her orbit, she didn't just sizzle - she absolutely fizzed. She had this extraordinary energy and this X Factor so rare in this business, genuine X Factor, that was so at odds with the torment she was going through."
MORE: Phillip Schofield breaks down in tears live on air during heartbreaking tribute to Caroline Flack
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