As you may recall, a few weeks ago, TV chef Anthony Worrall Thompson hit the headlines after being arrested for shoplifting.

Thompson was caught on CCTV stealing from a Tesco store in Oxfordshire on five separate occasions.

Afterwards, Anthony claimed he had “no idea” why he’d stolen, and added that he intends to seek treatment for kleptomania.

However, today, TV host Richard Madeley has told the Sun that he thinks it’s “improbable” that Anthony intended to embark on a “life of crime.”

Richard, who was himself accused of shoplifting from a Tesco store back in 1994, said, “I don’t think a 60-year-old in his position is suddenly going to turn to a life of crime, do you? It just seems improbable…

“It seems to me that he was under some kind of pressure — and he has actually said that.”

And of his own allegations of theft, Richard said it was “humiliating” and “awful” to be accused of theft, and added, “It could’ve destroyed my career.”

Richard did appear in court to answer the charges, but was acquitted of all shoplifting charges after citing lapses of memory for his walking out of the store with goods he hadn’t paid for.

Further scandal dogged Richard and his co-host wife Judy Finnigan when, in 2007, they were embroiled in a “scam” regarding their daily quiz, You Say We Pay, when it was revealed that the winner was actually chosen just minutes after the phone lines opened.

That of course meant that everyone who subsequently called until lines closed had actually no chance of winning.

The couple both denied being involved in the scam, which was revealed by the Mail on Sunday newspaper.