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Over the years, Richard Madeley has developed a reputation for being the real-life Alan Partridge.
Now, whether that’s a fair comparison isn’t for us to say (for the record, Richard doesn’t think it entirely fair).
Still, it now appears as though the Good Morning Britain presenter is taking inspiration from another TV icon: Louis Theroux.
Yes, last night (May 27), the 70-year-old presented a Channel 5 documentary titled ‘Richard Madeley: Inside the World’s Mega Prison’.
The show investigated the prison conditions at the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in El Salvador.
Known as one of the world’s most brutal maximum-security prisons, the complex holds 15,000 inmates and some of El Salvador’s most dangerous criminals.
According to the show’s website, Richard wanted to investigate whether a tough approach to violent crime could ever be acceptable in the UK.
It sounds like the type of hard-hitting material Louis would love to sink his teeth into, but sadly, viewers weren’t convinced Richard was up to the job.
In fact, a lot of people online think the whole thing was rather cringeworthy, especially as Richard got himself chucked out of the prison after just 15 minutes.
@NicolaSillyBum wrote on X, ‘I would have enjoyed a documentary about a mega prison but Richard Madeley?#’
@stoptheboats83 added: ‘Only Richard Madeley could be booted out of a mega jail after 15 minutes.’
Other viewers couldn’t help but make the old comparison to Steve Coogan’s most famous creation.
‘Just finished watching #insidethemegaprison on Channel 5,’ wrote @tlchillii· ‘My favourite part was Richard Madeley uttering “holy cow”, when being shown a video of a literal murder. More Partridge than Partridge himself.’
@austintvwatcher agreed, adding: ‘I’m convinced Richard Madeley is Alan Partridge.’
Some couldn’t help but wonder if the show might have been improved by having Louis involved.
We need @louistheroux to do a documentary of #insidethemegaprison,’ @Raven_M0rrigan claimed. ‘Richard Madeley is annoying me.’
@CrystalVixen1 was of a similar view: ‘Louis Theroux is needed here. #insidethemegaprison.’
Of course, in Richard’s defence, Inside the World’s Mega Prison did have its defenders.
@MoiraJame defended the show by writing: ‘I watched a documentary last night on Channel 5 called Inside the World’s Mega Prison with Richard Madeley. It was the best doc I’ve watched for years.’
ITV presenter @mrrobosborne backed Richard as well, posting: ‘I thought this was excellent and Richard Madeley really should be fronting more docs like this.’
The Guardian put it on its ‘TV tonight’ recommendations list, while The Times called it ‘hard-hitting’.
So watch out, Louis, Richard might be coming for your job.
Richard Madeley: Inside the World’s Mega Prison is available to watch now on Channel 5.
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