Presenter conquering fear of city she lived in during abusive marriage

Weather presenter Ruth Dodsworth says she has taken a step to conquering her fear of the city she lived in with her abusive husband by doing a live TV report in the city.

Dodwsorth had some of the "unhappiest times in her entire life" in Swansea, where she lived with Jonathan Wignall.

Despite getting "shivers" anytime she gets near the city, she presented the weather from Plantasia Tropical Zoo for ITV.

"I've done it the once and I've built myself up to that, and I'll build myself up to go back again," she said.

Dodsworth said that while she loves the city, where she spent a lot of time as a child, she has not been able to visit Swansea as it holds memories of her marriage to Wignall, who was jailed in 2021 after a nine-year campaign of harassment and stalking during their marriage.

"I think it's just the memories and the fact that I just associate it with some of the most unhappy and miserable times of my life, and I will always be frightened of going into Swansea," she said.

"Part of the issue is that at the moment, we don't know where he is.

"When Swansea was mentioned, my first reaction was, 'I can't do it'.

"But actually, the more I thought about it, the more I almost wanted to make myself do it."

Supported by her colleagues, Dodsworth reported live from Plantasia Tropical Zoo, somewhere she used to pass "pretty much every day" when she travelled to work.

"I'm so pleased I managed to do it," she said.

"That was such a good thing to do, it really was because it just taught me that I can go there and be OK."

The presenter said she had "a little cry" after she arrived home, but is determined to visit Swansea again.

She said: "For me, it's realising that it's not the places, it was the situation.

"It was the person, that's what caused the harm."

Wignall was jailed for three years after a campaign of stalking and harassment during their marriage.

Dodsworth said: "I'm nearly seven years down the line but I still lock doors and windows, I still check my car when I get in it.

"Those things never really go away."

Since released, the presenter has not been given any information about her ex-husband's whereabouts as he "has certain rights and we don't have those rights".

"I do understand it, but it doesn't make life easier when you do want to move on."

Dodsworth continues to campaign and raise awareness of domestic abuse and coercive control, and was awarded an OBE in 2025 for her services to domestic abuse survivors.