Busted icon Matt Willis is bravely opening up about his struggles with substance abuse in new BBC documentary Fighting Addiction, and highlighting the effect that it has had on his family life.
The 40-year-old has had four spells in rehab in the past two decades and last relapsed in 2016 during Busted’s reunion tour, leading him to do 6 grams of cocaine a day.
He’s also been reflecting on his relationship with his wife following his most recent relapse, admitting he used to be ‘the mastermind at gaslighting, making her think she was crazy’.
‘I’m so ashamed of that,’ he told The Guardian. ‘And I never want her to feel like that again.’
Matt’s wife is pretty well-known in her own right – but who is he married to? And do they have children?
Who is Matt Willis’ wife?
Matt Willis is married to TV presenter Emma Willis – best known as the presenter of Big Brother and The Voice, as well as Channel 4 reality show The Circle.
She and Matt have been married since 2008, having initially met in 2004 when Emma was working as presenter on MTV and Matt appeared on the show with Busted.
‘I’d see him wearing baggy jeans, waddling around like a duck so they didn’t fall down.
‘He used to wear makeup and have weird hairstyles. But I remember thinking underneath all that was a really cute guy…’ Emma told Cosmopolitan of her first impression of her husband.
Matt proposed in 2007 in Venice, and they were married a year later in Ruston Hall, Northamptonshire – returning to the same venue to renew their vows on their tenth anniversary.
Matt marked the occasion with a touching Instagram post in which he paid tribute to Emma, saying: ‘I actually managed to hang on to her for 10 years…I’m still not sure how?’
I know I’m punching before you all comment that! I am the luckiest guy in the world. I get to spend the rest of my life with this kind beautiful powerful woman. She is the most amazing wife and mother and I could not be more proud to be her husband.
‘Thank you for the best years of my life.’
However, he admits in the documentary that things have been tough at times, admitting Emma had come close to leaving him ‘many times’ in the wake of his addiction – although Emma, too, has spoken out about her husband’s struggles.
‘I wanted to help him,’ she told the Telegraph in 2020. ‘Your relationship progresses and you realise that there is a real issue, and it’s not just a young kid who has got a lot of money very quickly.’
Emma, 47, recently shared a sweet message to Matt as he turned 40, saying on Instagram: ‘Yesterday we were blessed with the sunshine and being surrounded by (almost) everyone we love. A day early celebration for @mattjwillis turning 40.
‘I love you babe, you blow me away every single day with your spirit, strength and determination. Here’s to living every day to the max together, always… [sic].’
Do Matt and Emma have children?
Matt and Emma are parents to three children – Isabelle, who was born on June 20 2009, Ace, born November 26 2011, and youngest daughter Trixie, who they welcomed in May 2016.
The couple keep their children out of the public eye, choosing not to share photos of them online – although they do sometimes posts snaps on social media with the kids hiding their faces.
Despite this their son Ace has been hailed a ‘style icon’, and was previously praised for breaking gender stereotypes for having long hair and choosing to wear pink.
Emma defended her child’s choice to wear what he wants at the time, telling The Sun’s Fabulous magazine:’ Say what you want about me, I’m big enough to take it on the chin. But when you get comments like that regarding your children, it just makes the Hulk want to come out and scream at the world.’
Meanwhile Matt has said that he watched his documentary with Isabelle, saying the teenager is ‘old enough’ to know about alcoholism.
‘We watched it together and she had the most incredible questions,’ he explained during an appearance on The One Show.
‘I thought it was important as her friends or parents at school might watch it so I wanted to preempt her with that. I was blown away by her reaction to it.
MORE : Matt Willis reveals he consumed 6 grams of cocaine a day on his own after relapse on Busted tour
MORE : Busted’s Matt Willis reveals ‘shame’ of ‘gaslighting’ wife Emma Willis amid addiction battle
Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction airs on BBC One on Wednesday May 17 at 9pm.
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