Loose Women ’s Janet Street-Porter revealed on the show that she is still terrified of her ex partner who domestically abused her.
Janet did not give away the identity of her abuser because she admitted she was still scared of him now.
Her touchingly honest admission came as the Loose Women hosts were discussing supermarkets' new vows to help people affected by domestic abuse.
Speaking to co presenters Andrea McLean, Brenda Edwards and Jane Moore, Janet opened up on her traumatising experience in a rare vulnerable moment for the acerbic journalist.
Andrea explained that supermarkets are introducing a code word that a victim can say to a member of staff, and the victim will be taken into a back room where the police can be called or other appropriate action can be taken.
Janet responded: "While I think this is all a very good idea... The idea of going into a supermarket and being so distraught anyway, they have to find the room, it's a bit like the smoking room, is it a special room that someone has a key to?
"I know I sound cynical but you can imagine a situation where someone is absolutely at their wits end and then they were gong through a series of members of staff.
"Also I see this as part of a trend where supermarkets are trying to infiltrate service that councils and social services used to provide, to make themselves more essential in our lives.
"When what we really need are highly trained experts and people who have done the proper training to help us out of that situation.
"When I was in an abusive relationship I did not discuss it with anyone, because I realised I had made a complete fool of myself, you are paralysed.
"You might have the number on your supermarket till but then it's like telling more people what a mess you've made of things, you do blame yourself."
Jane asked Janet how she escaped the abuse, and Janet explained: "I used to go and stay with somebody else.
"In the end, I was getting divorced but my husband was in my house, and I don't want to go into too much detail because to this day I'm slightly fearful of him, which is an incredible thing to say.
"But I rang his mother and basically threatened her, not threatened nastily but I explained what was gong on and she persuaded him to leave."
* Loose Women airs on weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV
If you're affected, you can call the National Domestic Abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247. Download the Brightsky App.
