Former newsreader Jan Leeming says children need to be trained like dogs - before backtracking after criticism

Former newsreader Jan Leeming has backtracked after sparking an intense debate about parenting by claiming children should be trained 'like a dog'.

Speaking to Times Radio's Rod Liddle on Saturday, the ex-BBC star said too many parents treat their children 'like little princes and princesses'. 

She said 'many of them are just allowed to run riot', adding that she sees 'children with their feet on chairs that people have got to sit on'. 

But then Ms Leeming, 84, suggested parents should train their kids 'like animals'. 

'My goodness, if you give a sort of dirty or disapproving look, you know, you are the one who’s in the wrong,' she said. 

'I hope this is not taken the wrong way, but like an animal, like a dog, you train it to be socially acceptable.' 

Her comments came after taking to social media earlier this week to complain that lunch with her friend was 'slightly spoilt by a screaming child'. 

On Monday she wrote on X: 'Perhaps this shows my age. I took a friend as a birthday present to lunch at the Pig at Bridge - not inexpensive. 

Former newsreader Jan Leeming, 84, told Times Radio that a 'screaming child' had 'slightly spoilt' her lunch 

The former BBC newsreader sparked an intense debate after claiming children should be trained like dogs 

But she backtracked on her remarks on Sunday, saying she had made a joke that was 'taken seriously' 

'Lovely ambiance - slightly spoiled by a screaming child at lunch. 

'When I paid and remonstrated, was treated as though I were the one at fault.'

However on Sunday morning Ms Leeming backtracked on her comments, claiming she had made a joke that was 'taken seriously'. 

The former newsreader admitted it was 'my fault'. 

Taking to X to issue the apology, Ms Leeming wrote: 'Oh dear! Trouble again. Should have kept to my vow of not giving oral interviews. 

'Wanting to correct all inaccuracies spoke with Rod Liddle on Times Radio But something I said with a laugh has been taken seriously as a headline - it’s horrid. 

'My fault - engage brain before mouth.' 

The ex-BBC star followed it up three minutes later with another post to clarify her remarks, saying she wishes she had 'never said a word'. 

Taking to X, Ms Leeming said she wishes she had 'never said a word about the lunch' 

Read More Mother shamed by Jan Leeming hits back after star claimed she 'spoiled dinner with screaming child'

She wrote: 'What I should have said was "children should be trained to be socially acceptable before they are let loose on the public". 

'But I referenced training dogs!!! Now there will be more flack [sic]. Wish I’d never said a word about the lunch.' 

But the mother who found herself at the centre of the argument told the Daily Mail she felt unfairly targeted over the restaurant incident. 

Alex Edwards, 35, said her three young children were well behaved during the family outing to celebrate her husband Taylor's 35th birthday. 

Mrs Edwards, who believes she was the allegedly 'oblivious' mother targeted, said: 'The suggestion that we are "oblivious parents" is unfair and frankly offensive. 

'We are a family who enjoy celebrating together.

'The restaurant offers a children's menu, which we took to mean that children are welcome.

'If someone strongly dislikes the sound or presence of children, I would suggest that responsibility lies with them to choose a child-free venue. 

'Perhaps Jan should find a restaurant without a kids' menu in future.'

However Ms Leeming was flooded with support by people who agreed with her remarks.

One said: 'I listened to you yesterday. You were fine. People looking for faults - probably those with noisy children!!' 

Another wrote: 'The professionally offended class of the last decade is not a welcome societal change.  

'There is no dealing with them other than to give them the shortest of short shrift.' 

A third said: 'Most dogs are better behaved than many children though in public...

'You don't have to explain yourself to those who look everywhere with fine toothed comb to be offended [sic].' 

X users react in support of Ms Leeming's comments 

Meanwhile a fourth looked to take Ms Leeming's remarks even further, criticising young people who play audio from their phones on loud speaker while in public as 'unsociable prats'. 

She said: 'Could you start talking about the unsociable prats who use their phones with speaker on in public next please?' 

And another claimed it was 'parents who need training'.  

But not everyone agreed with the former newsreader's remarks, with some suggesting she was being 'overly dramatic' about unruly children. 

One critic said: 'I was with you until I heard the other side of the story, seems like you have been overly dramatic about what actually happened. 

'There are three sides to every story, yours, theirs and the truth.'

Another wrote: 'No child comes out of the womb silent and compliant. 

'Theoretically it should be quicker to teach Jan Leeming to be tolerant than it is to make sure a toddler never squawks.' 

Critics said children's behaviour 'must be tolerated by diners' and that 'no child comes out of the womb silent and compliant' 

A third remarked: 'You were a screeching toddler ruining a special meal once upon a time Jan. 

'Children’s behaviour must be tolerated by diners while they learn how to eat out. 

'It can only be achieved with experience and moving through a pain barrier of boredom and a short attention span. 

'Younger the better — so they enjoy special meals out one day with friends.' 

Meanwhile a fourth said: 'If the place has a kids menu and high chairs, she picked the wrong time/place for a "special meal out with a friend". 

'Restaurants need to pay their bills and families bring numbers.'