Cassandra Thorburn and Channel Nine's Karl Stefanovic recently announced they are separating after 21 years of marriage.

Today co-host and his former partner, who have three children together, ended their 21-year marriage last month. Their Sydney home is currently up for sale, while Stefanovic has moved out of the family home and was reportedly living in his mate James Packer’s pad.

In an interview with Mum Central, Thorburn said the intense public scrutiny she’s received in recent weeks has taken a toll.

“I don’t think it’s fair that people are turning our private relationship matters into public fodder. I’m grieving the loss of my relationship. The loss of my best friend and life partner,” she said.

“I’m just like every other mother and wife who is going through a marriage break-up, only I have the added anxiety of having the spotlight thrust in my face at a time when what myself and my children really need is privacy,” she said.

Thorburn says strangers now recognise her when she’s out in public.

“I don’t want to be scared to go out, but there are days when I dread going to the supermarket,” she said.

“I was recently at the local corner store when the lady serving me pointed to a magazine and asked, ‘Is that you?’. I wanted to say no … that’s not me! The story inside was a total misrepresentation of who I am and yes, it is my face on the cover but is it me? Not at all,” she said.

2011 Logies. Logie Awards. Red carpet arrivals. Cassandra Thorburn and Karl Stefanovic at the 2011 Logie Awards.Source:News Limited

She asked for people to show kindness and compassion if they see her out and about.

“I’ve had the most incredible messages from people reaching out and people I don’t even know have offered their support. But if you do see me in the street, just some compassion would be nice,” she said.

This isn’t the first time Thorburn has spoken out since the couple announced their split. She took to Facebook last week to claim her role in her husband’s success, after Today staff celebrated its ratings win over rival Sunrise.

“Apparently Today Show finally won a year,” she wrote on her personal Facebook page.

“This took a huge toll on my family and I and I’m congratulating myself today for all the effort that went into making that happen.

“The suggestions, the story ideas, the constant counselling of questions for years. I’m giving myself a pat on the back tonight as I know many people will also know how much effort I put into it.”

Stefanovic has previously praised his wife, herself a journalist, for giving up her career to be a stay-at-home mother.

“She gave up a promising career at the ABC and I’m forever thankful and tremendously appreciative of that,” he told The Herald-Sun in 2015.

“Cass wanted to be at home, and wants to be there now, and we’re very lucky to be in a financial position where we can do that.

“But should she ever want to go back to work, then of course she can.”

Radio presenter Ben Fordham has previously told Fairfax: “There’s no question that Cass is a crucial ingredient in Karl’s success.”

“I think she’s ambitious for him … because she wants the best for Karl and she knows how talented he is.”