Entertainment
This Morning viewers praise weather presenter for speaking out about abusive ex she feared would kill her
This Morning viewers praised a powerful segment on Wednesday’s show as weather presenter Ruth Dodsworth spoke out about her abusive ex-husband.
Ruth’s ex, Jonathan Wignall, 54, with whom she shares two children, was jailed for three years and given a restraining order last week after a nine-year campaign of controlling behaviour, harassment and stalking during their marriage.
Appearing on the show, Ruth, 45, revealed the moment she feared her ex-husband would kill her, after her children warned her not to come home while he was in a rage.
She revealed the abuse escalated in October 2019 when he began phoning her hundreds of times a day to find out who she was with, even fitting a tracking device to her car and sometimes following her.
Ruth explained: ‘That particular day he’d started drinking earlier in the day. By the time my children got home from school they were phoning me saying “Mum, don’t come home. Don’t come home. He’s going to kill you.”
‘And I think, for me, that was a turning point. I didn’t go home that night, because I think if I had I wouldn’t be here now in any shape or form.’
Ruth also revealed that her ex had accrued hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of debt in her name leaving her unable to get a mortgage or a credit card.
She admitted: ‘I’ve worked for 25 years, every single day for ITV. And I have, apart from a very small pension, nothing to show for it.’
Viewers also praised Ruth for encouraging others in the same situation to speak out, as she said on the show: ‘As hard as it is, just ask. Because I look back now and wish I’d done so sooner. I would not be here, I wouldn’t be alive if I hadn’t asked for help.
‘Not being believed was something I was really frightened of. But I was believed, and I would say to anybody, you will be believed too.’
Viewers tweeted: ‘What an incredibly brave lady you are and your children must’ve been through that hell as well. I hope you are all feeling much happier now, stay positive’ and ‘Ruth’s experience made me realise, Iv been through similar with my ex husband but didn’t realise it at the time. Well done brave lady.’
Others added: ‘Ruth has been so brave in speaking out on her experience of coercive control and abuse. I hope this inspires others to seek help. Leaving is hard but it will save your life!’ and ‘Painful to watch – must take immense courage to speak out so publicly. Can’t believe he only got three years.’
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
Domestic abuse helpline
If you are in immediate danger call 999. If you cannot talk, dial 55 and the operator will respond.
For emotional support, you can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247. Alternatively, for practical and emotional support, please contact Women’s Aid Live Chat 10am – 6pm seven days a week.
For free and confidential advice and support for women in London affected by abuse, you can call Solace on 0808 802 5565 or email advice@solacewomensaid.org.
Male victims of domestic abuse can call 01823 334244 to speak to ManKind, an initiative available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers.
Alternatively, the Men’s Advice Line can be reached at 0808 8010327, or emailed at info@mensadviceline.org.uk.
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