The long-time host of the popular game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (WWTBAM), Frank Edoho, has revealed that allegations of domestic violence very nearly cost him his role on the show.

Edoho, who was previously married to Katherine Obiang for seven years, shares three children with her.

Speaking on the WithChude podcast on Saturday, the TV host opened up about his relationship with his ex-wife, describing their union as a “mismatch” and admitting that both parties shared responsibility for their challenges.

“My ex-wife was my friend, and there were children involved. I think ours was a mismatch; I was young. When she got pregnant, I had cold feet, but I still got married. It lasted seven years, and in 2010, I left. Three years after, I remarried,” Edoho said.

Reflecting on their relationship, Edoho emphasised the difference between friendship and marriage, stating: “Being friends with the opposite sex doesn’t mean you should get married because that’s a different ball game. In hindsight, maybe I should have thought about it a bit more.

“She was my good friend, but I think it was love too. I also think we didn’t look at each other very well before we delved into it. I’m not going to say it was only her fault; it was my fault too, but not in the way people were depicting it.”

Rumours of domestic violence began circulating after their separation, which Edoho revealed put his career as the host of WWTBAM in jeopardy.

“That was one of the times I was very depressed, but I couldn’t say anything. The first crisis happened in 2007, but I still stayed on for three years. Then it got to a head in 2010, and I left,” he explained.

The allegations escalated to the point that they caught the attention of the show’s sponsors.

Edoho recounted, “When I left, I was still doing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Then all of a sudden, I was in the UK, and my boss called me and told me to come back to Lagos because the sponsors were hearing things about me.

“They said I’m not going to present this show anymore because of those rumors. I got on a flight the following morning to attend a meeting with them.

“Luckily, my boss knew everything because I’d been telling him about the altercations between us. I was also thinking about my children. They said I committed domestic violence and I’m a wife-beater.

“After listening to them, I told them I’ll tell them everything starting from when I was dating. By the time I reached marriage and the birth of my son and first daughter, two of the ladies were crying.

“I was giving accounts of everything that happened, and I told them that I have receipts. I said nobody divorced me; I took my suitcase and left the marriage.”

Frank Edoho has since moved on and remarried. He tied the knot with his second wife, Sandra Onyenuchenuya, on April 2, 2014.