Ruth Dodsworth has shared a defiant message to her ex-husband who is currently in prison for coercive and controlling behaviour, ahead of his scheduled release later in the year.
The ITV weather presenter’s husband, Jonathan Wignall, 55, had been but could be released at the end of this year after serving half of his sentence.
While Ruth does fear his release, despite a restraining order, she vowed not to let her past relationship dictate her and her children having a happy life.
She shares an 18-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son with her ex-husband, who had phoned her the night before his arrest and
Ruth admits she is ‘haunted’ by her children’s words, but would not ban them from having contact with their father if they choose to do so.
She says she has upped the security on her home with additional locks on her doors and windows, but added on Good Morning Britain: ‘What I also want to say is, you can do that but you can still have a happy life after.
‘I had 20 years of domestic abuse and coercive control and my life now is so, so good and I’m so happy. I wake up and I smile and I have a reason to wake up and smile as opposed to waking up crying, which I did for so many years.
‘To anyone who thinks that making that call and that change is too hard, it is hard but it’s so worth it because you can have a happy life.’
Host Adil Ray asked Ruth what she would tell her ex-husband if he were watching the interview, to which she responded: ‘I’ve got so many things that I’d like to say.
‘But I would like him to understand that despite his behaviour, I and his children are very, very, very happy, and that to me, that’s winning at life. It really, really is.’
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
