Matthew Wright and his wife Amelia reveal trauma of being stalked by a ‘super fan’

Matthew Wright and his wife Amelia spoke for the first time about their ‘horrendous’ ordeal with a stalker during an interview with Lorraine on Monday.

The TV star appeared with his wife to describe their experience after stalker Michelle Ranicar admitted stalking the couple for six months during a court appearance last week.   

Ranicar, 53, from Uxbridge, admitted one count of stalking to cause serious alarm or distress between November and May 2018 at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday, October 20.

Tough: Matthew Wright and his wife Amelia spoke for the first time about their ‘horrendous’ ordeal with a stalker during an interview with Lorraine on Monday

Ranicar previously denied the same charges when she appeared in court in 2019 and had been due to stand trial this March.  

She’s alleged to have pursued the presenter and his wife Amelia, who had daughter Cassidy in January 2019, including turning up at their home in Primrose Hill, north London.

A judge heard Ranicar suffers from learning difficulties and had been diagnosed with a ‘mild autism spectrum disorder’, as reported by the Mirror.

A regular audience member for The Wright Stuff, the 53-year-old described herself as a ‘superfan’ in an interview in 2016. 

Speaking out: The TV star appeared with his wife to describe their experience after stalker Michelle Ranicar admitted stalking the couple for six months during a court appearance last week

Speaking out: The TV star appeared with his wife to describe their experience after stalker Michelle Ranicar admitted stalking the couple for six months during a court appearance last week

Speaking on Monday the couple revealed Ranicar had told a then-pregnant Amelia that ‘women your age more likely to have a stillbirth’ during the ordeal, after the couple struggled to conceive their daughter. 

Ranicar also turned up at their house, according to the couple, and shouted through the letterbox that she wanted their baby.

‘It was the most horrendous time we’ve been through, scary and frightening,’ Amelia told Lorraine.

Matthew explained that he first met Ranicar when she was a member of the studio audience on one of his former show The Wright Stuff, describing her as ‘friendly to everyone.’

Awful: Speaking on Monday the couple revealed Ranicar had told a then-pregnant Amelia that 'women your age more likely to have a stillbirth' during the ordeal

Awful: Speaking on Monday the couple revealed Ranicar had told a then-pregnant Amelia that ‘women your age more likely to have a stillbirth’ during the ordeal

He said he was ‘unaware she’d developed notions we had a relationship’. She was subsequently banned from his TV show but turned up at a charity auction the star was hosting. 

Amelia explained that ‘a glam woman approached me at this charity auction, saying I dont like the way my relationship with Matthew ended and the penny dropped. I was heavily pregnant and she said “women your age more likely to have a stillbirth”. I was shocked to the core.’

Matthew added: ‘I’d been on stage and hadn’t clocked it, I then ran off stage grabbed Amelia and went home a different route so she wouldn’t find us but she had our address and turned up a few days later.’

Amelia revealed that Ranicar shouted through the letterbox at the family home that she was going to find out what maternity unit Amelia was registered at and “I’ll wait outside and find you and the baby.”‘

Family: Ranicar also turned up at their house, according to the couple, and shouted through the letterbox that she wanted their baby following the birth of daughter Cassidy in January

Family: Ranicar also turned up at their house, according to the couple, and shouted through the letterbox that she wanted their baby following the birth of daughter Cassidy in January

Despite the couple contacting the police, the ordeal continued until Amelia gave birth to their daughter Cassidy, at which point Ranicar again turned up on their doorstep saying she wanted to hold the baby.   

‘Amelia wouldn’t go out the house without looking down side street and expecting someone to leap out.. it absolutely takes over your life,’ Matthew said.  

‘I didn’t want to go out the house because she said she wanted to snatch the baby,’ Amelia added.  

The couple went on to praise the police response, saying ‘we can’t praise Met police enough on this. They initially said it would be dealt with civilly. They were aware she may have had a few mental health issues, but couldn’t control here civilly and her behaviour became more erratic. They were fantastic.’

After Ranicar pleaded guilty last week, the couple admitted the ordeal has ‘cast a long shadow, we’re still shaken by the whole thing.’

‘A melia is understandably having a harder time reconciling than I am,’ Matthew added. ‘Being subjected to it while heavily pregnant or with a little baby, that said  slight women harassing big men is still a problem.’

Some people refer to her as a super fan, well I’m a super fan of bands but I dont turn up at their house! It’s not a joke.’ 

'It's cast a shadow': 'Amelia wouldn't go out the house without looking down side street and expecting someone to leap out.. it absolutely takes over your life,' Matthew said

‘It’s cast a shadow’: ‘Amelia wouldn’t go out the house without looking down side street and expecting someone to leap out.. it absolutely takes over your life,’ Matthew said