ITV weather presenter Ruth Dodsworth admitted she hid her secret torment behind her "smiley, sunshine-like" TV persona as she suffered years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband.
Ruth's former partner Jonathan Wignall, 54, has been jailed for three years after pleading guilty to charges of coercive and controlling behaviour and stalking.
He's said to have made his wife's life a misery over a nine-year period.
During his sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday, the star - who is a presenter on ITV Wales - read out a victim impact statement in which she explained how her ex's behaviour affected her life.
Ruth confessed she was left feeling "nervous, frightened, and broken" but had to put on a brave face for her TV job.
She told the court: "Because of my television career I’ve had to try and portray a smiley, happy, sunshine-like personality every day, when how I felt was everything but."
Wignall was arrested on October 18, 2019, after calling his wife more than 150 times the day - prompting her to stay away from the family home over fears for her safety.
The court heard he controlled every aspect of her life, turning up at the TV studios where she worked, accessing her phone and mail and even fitting a tracking device to her car.
After being arrested on suspicion of harassment the court was told Wignall replied: "Harassment? But she's my wife."
In her statement, Ruth went on to tell the court she felt "robbed" of some of the happiest times of her life.
She said: "I look over my marriage to Jonathan and I feel I have been robbed of what was meant to be the happiest times of my life.
"The birth of our children, family gatherings, achievements in my career, and associations with friends have been tainted.
"I have lived my life feeling nervous, frightened, and broken. Life with Jonathan was like walking on eggshells.
"His temper would turn in an instant. He was frighteningly unpredictable and extremely volatile.
"His regular alcohol abuse caused him to be verbally abusive and physically violent towards me. He became bitter and hostile to me over the years and his frequent outbursts of hatred to us all was exhausting.
"Jonathan made me entirely dependent on him. The atmosphere of fear at our so-called home – a place we should have felt safe, secure and loved. Home was often the last place I wanted to be. There was barely a day I did not leave for work in tears and arrive back fearful of what was waiting for me."
