Richard Madeley robbed as he calls for 'weird looking' thief 'to be hanged'

01 December 2023 , 18:05

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Richard Madeley fumed after being tricked by a mobile phone fraudster (Image: ITV)

Richard Madeley wants to 'bring back capital punishment' after being robbed while boozing in his local pub in what he's calling a "malicious magic trick".

The Good Morning Britain presenter wants the brazen thief "hanged" after feeling as if his arm was "chopped off" when the tricky fraudster made off with his mobile phone. The 67-year-old had his gadget swiped by a "weird-looking guy".

"I loathe the man who did this to me," he explained, calling for the death of the man who nicked his iPhone without him even noticing. Richard recalled realising his mobile had been pinched five minutes after the mystery man had disappeared.

Richard suggested the tricky iPhone thief should be 'hanged' (ITV)

"I've always been against capital punishment but after the week I've had I'm making an exception," the furious telly star wrote in the Spectator. "The return of the death penalty for iPhone thieves, if you please. By garrotting, preferably."

Detailing the incident, Richard explained: "I was in my local when a weird-looking guy shambling around the bar slammed a dog-eared magazine down on my table and demanded I buy it. When I refused he swept it back again and wandered off. Five minutes later I realised he'd smuggled my phone away underneath the magazine."

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He added: "I loathe the man who did this to me. Even so, I accept that garrotting is probably a stretch too far." Richard wasn't happy he fell for such a "bog-standard technique", adding: "So I'll settle for a straightforward hanging. Just as long as I'm the one allowed to pull the trapdoor lever, OK?"

Last month, Richard was left blushing on Good Morning Britain thanks to a surprise on the show. The ITV chat show pointed out that it was BBC Radio Cumbria's 50th anniversary, where Richard worked back in the 1970s at the start of his career.

GMB decided to find a clip from the radio station back from 1976, where Richard floored his co-host Susanna Reid with his very different voice. Susanna, 52, said: "BBC Radio Cumbria's 50th anniversary and to remind you of your origins, here is Richard Madeley back in the day... 1976!"

The recording then played out in the studio to which Richard covered his face, admitting: "I'm actually blushing, I'm actually blushing! I can't do that voice anymore! I sounded like a World War II newsreader? I'm from Essex, I'm from Romford, Essex, that's how I spoke when I worked for Carlisle and I found out I was having to talk like that!" To which Susanna teased: "Even the Royals don't talk like that!", with Richard replying: "I know, I know!"

Also last month, Richard revealed he was celebrating a huge milestone with his wife Judy Finnigan as the couple marked their 37th wedding anniversary. The iconic couple married in 1986 and Richard revealed they had actually been together for a total of 40 years, including their relationship before marriage.

Harry Rutter