Richard Madeley's Inside the World's Mega Prison: First look at El Salvador jail where prisoners' heads are shaved as they are caged on top of each other
Richard says it is 'profoundly shocking'Richard Madeley bravely enters one of the world’s most terrifying prisons for a new documentary this week – and here’s a first look.
In a wild trailer, the former This Morning host looks on as hundreds of lags sit crammed on metal beds stacked on top of each other in huge jail cells.
The heavily tattooed prisoners all look identical, with shaved heads, bare chests and prison issue shorts.
Richard can’t believe his eyes when he also sees them forced to sit cross-legged in huge long lines, each bending forward onto the man in front.
All the men locked up are said to be “the world’s most dangerous criminals” and most will never leave.
Richard Madeley: Inside the World’s Mega Prison will raise questions about whether it is a “step too far” – or whether the UK should welcome something similar.
Where is the prison Richard Madeley visits?
The prison featured in Richard’s documentary is the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT) in El Salvador, Central America.
It is a huge a very strict maximum security prison and an integral part of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s war on gangs.
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Richard is given access to the entire compound. He speaks with some of the violent prisoners about their time inside and to the heavily-armed guards.
In the trailer for the show, Richard gasps “holy cow”. He admits it’s “full on” as he makes his way inside. Guards dressed in camouflage and branding rifles line the road leading up to the entrance.
Richard visits a disused execution wall, littered with bullet holes. He meets mass murderers, some of whom killed pregnant women and children.
It’s revealed CECOT can house up to 40,000 prisoners at a time.
“This like no other prison I’ve ever seen,” Richard admits. “It’s profoundly shocking.”
When is Richard Madeley: Inside the World’s Mega Prison on?
Richard Madeley: Inside the World’s Mega Prison is definitely not one to miss if this kind of show floats your boat.
You can watch it on Channel 5 at 9pm tomorrow night (Wednesday May 27, 2026).
We are definitely here for this one.
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