Richard Madeley believes the corporal punishment he received as a schoolboy had a ‘definite sexual element to it.’
Madeley, 67, reflected on his childhood ahead of an interview with Earl Spencer on Tuesday’s edition of Good Morning Britain.
Spencer, 59, was on hand to discuss his new autobiography, A Very Private School, in which he detail the abuse he suffered at Maidwell Hall in Norfolk, one of England’s most prestigious boarding schools.
Discussing the book, Madeley was prompted to share his own experience of being caned as a pupil at Coopers’ Company – an all-boys grammar school in east London – with co-host Susanna Reid.
‘It went on into the 1980s,’ he said of the archaic practice, which was outlawed from all British state schools in 1987. ‘I was regularly caned at school in the late 1960s and yes, there were sexual elements to it, undoubtedly.’
Good Morning Britain co-host Richard Madeley believes the corporal punishment he received as a schoolboy had a ‘definite sexual element to it’
Madeley attended Coopers’ Company – an all-boys grammar school in London – before moving to a different secondary school in Brentwood, Essex (Madeley pictured with his mother, Mary)
Susanna Reid was visibly appalled as her co-host discussed his school years ahead of an interview with Earl Spencer on Tuesday’s edition of the show
An appalled Reid added: ‘Honestly, horror, horror, at a place where you’re supposed to be looked after by people because your parents aren’t there.’
Spencer – the younger brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales – alleges he was groomed and preyed upon by a school matron while attending Maidwell.
‘We were totally disconnected and at the mercy of pedophiles and sadists,’ he said. ‘I was so caught up in the emotions I didn’t know what was going on.
‘She would groom me and give me biscuits and come back for sexual things.’
Responding to Spencer’s claims in a statement, Maidwell Hall said: ‘We are sorry that was their experience. It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time.
‘Almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s. At the heart of the changes is the safeguarding of children and promotion of their welfare.’
Madeley previously spoke about his own experiences during an interview with the The Telegraph, claiming two teachers who were having an affair would watch whenever he was caned.
‘The music teacher had responsibility to administer the cane,’ he said. ‘He was having an affair with the English teacher, and she came in when it was my turn to be caned.
Spencer was on hand to discuss his new autobiography, A Very Private School, in which he detail the abuse he suffered as a pupil at Maidwell Hall in Norfolk
Discussing the book, Madeley was prompted to share his own experience of being caned
‘And I have to say there was some quasi-sexual thing going on. Even at that age I could tell they were both a bit excited.
‘We also had this very odd games master. When we were playing rugby he said he didn’t want his team wearing “namby pamby” underpants under our rugby shorts, and so when we filed out of the changing room he would pull our shorts towards him by the waistband to check we weren’t wearing any – behaviour that today would have people in prison for sexual assault.’
He added: ‘After three years my parents moved to Brentwood and I transferred to a fantastic mixed school: Shenfield High School.
‘Where Coopers had been rough and violent, with physical punishment and weird couplings between teachers, I walked into this civilised, calm, tranquil environment.’
Spencer – the younger brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales – alleges he was groomed and preyed upon by a school matron while attending Maidwell
