Alex Scott was in tears as she said football was an escape from her "controlling" father in an emotional interview.
The much-loved presenter, 37, and former footballer made the claim on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast.
Alex, who has written a memoir How (Not) To Be Strong, explained that despite feeling love for her father, she felt 'locked in' at home due to the 'toxic environment'.
Recalling a birthday party during which she said everyone was enjoying themselves, Alex broke down as she said her father had become violent later on in the evening.
Explaining that her mum was in the middle of a conversation when her dad asked her to get him a drink, she said: "My mum said 'No, you get your lemonade', but then it was was that icy tone as he repeated it.
"Straight away, I know what's coming. As soon as everybody leaves that night, he doesn't forget, so then we all know what's going to happen."
Her voice breaking, Alex continued: "That was the hardest night. My mum is trying to survive for her kids and then I'm in a room listening to everything go on and just hoping she's alive.
"But she doesn't know what me and brother are doing or feeling until she's read the book."
Alex said her father told her she wasn't allowed to hug her mum after the incident, saying she grew up in a environment where showing signs of affection was deemed 'weak'.
The star also claimed she and her brother never discussed their home life because they 'weren't allowed to speak until they were spoken to'.
"You could only share a look or catch a feeling and our feeling was that mum's alive. That we've still got our mum for the moment," Alex said.
The presenter then added: "I heard her trying to run and so as a five or six year old, I just wanted to hug her."
However, Alex said she couldn't because she'd 'felt the consequences' of 'disobeying' her father before.
The star said her mum eventually asked her dad to leave when Alex was seven.
Claiming her father asked her to "choose" between both parents, the presenter agreed her environment had taught her to be resilient.
Wiping the tears away as she spoke about her brilliant football career in which she played for Arsenal, Alex concluded: "I was lucky, I had an escape".
When contacted by The Times, Tony Scott acknowledged that his relationship with his family was volatile and he was strict with his children. He claims, "There are things I have done that have helped."
