The wife of former Coronation Street actor Ken Morley was tied up during an armed robbery at their Lancashire home.
Susan Morley was tied up for about an hour at the house
The bungalow in Clayton-le-Woods near Chorley was targeted as Susan Morley let the couple's dogs out.
Mr Morley, 64, who is best known for his role as Reg Holdsworth, was not at home at the time.
The gang held Mrs Morley to the floor and bound her hands and ankles. She was locked in a room while the robbers searched the house.
They eventually made off with jewellery.
After about an hour, Mrs Morley, a company director, managed to free herself and call for help.
Ken Morley was not at home when the robbery happened
She said: "It lasted for about an hour.
"It was terrible as you can imagine and I'm absolutely shattered."
The burglars were wearing dark clothing, balaclavas and gloves and were described by police as in their 30s and having Irish accents.
Police say that the robbery is being linked to a similar raid on a house in Halsall last month.
Det Insp Neil Howarth, of Lancashire Police, said: "This address has not been specifically targeted because it is the home of Mr and Mrs Morley."
Officers are appealing for witnesses to the robbery, which happened at about 2030 BST on Friday.
Mr and Mrs Morley married in 1989 - the year he took up his role in Coronation Street, which he played for six years.
More recently he appeared as US vice president Dick Cheney on Channel 4's Bremner, Bird and Fortune.