Talking Honey: How to deal with the 'monster-in-law' in your marriage

Mother-in-laws get a bad rap. But often for good reason.

Getting married means you're not only being tied to the man or woman of your dreams, but their family too.

Sometimes, if you're blessed, a mother-in-law can be your best friend. Your ally when times are tough, someone who has your back to support you through the trying times.

But there are also the mother-in-laws whose only goal seems to be making life hard for the significant other. Then they become known as the 'monster-in-law'.

Major problems tend to arise when a mother-in-law has it in for her daughter-in-law and the husband does nothing to keep his mother at bay. Rather than sticking up for his wife, the man refuses to confront his mother and tensions continue to rise, often becoming a source of constant anger within families.

While speaking with Shelly Horton, Jane De Graaff and Jo Abi, Ben Fordham revealed it was parent of an ex-girlfriend who actually turned him off from proposing.

"I thought, 'I'd like to marry this girl but because of a parent – and I won't say whether it was the mother or father - I don't think that I can," Fordham said,

"I don't think I'd be able to deal with this for the rest of my life."

But it was De Graaff who revealed the highly emotional confrontation that really tested her marriage.

Watch the video above.