INTERVIEW
The Busted star opens up to Closer about fears that his wife Emma would leave him, and how she saved his life
He’s known as “the cheeky one” from the boyband Busted and is one half of a power couple with wife Emma, but this month fans will see a different side to Matt Willis with the release of his documentary, Fighting Addiction, which details his devastating dependency on drugs and alcohol from a young age.
Matt’s documentary shows the star’s struggle with addiction in the spotlight after rising to fame with Busted in the early 2000s, and how he still fears a relapse despite being five years sober.
Confessing to Closer, Matt, 39, reveals that although it was difficult making the documentary, it was a cathartic process and actually strengthened his relationship with his wife of nearly 15 years, Emma, 47 – who is often in tears talking about their past scandal-hit marriage.
When Closer asks Matt whether he felt Emma would leave him, he opens up, “Absolutely, many, many times. I was always surprised that she hasn’t, but she’s an absolutely unbelievable woman. I caused her so much pain and agony.” He adds, “Making the show has been so beneficial for us. We didn’t really talk about certain aspects [at the time], because we were scared to. You don’t want to always be dredging up the past, but sometimes you have to deal with something to move forward. It’s been amazing for us as a couple and hopefully people will get something from that and open a dialogue [with their own loved ones].”
Matt and Emma’s wedding in 2008 came just three days after the Year 3000 hitmaker left rehab for the third time. His first stint came in 2005, his second in 2006 and his third in 2008, after his struggles with alcohol and drugs – in particular cocaine – became too much for the people around him and they forced him to seek help.
Matt – who won I’m A Celebrity! in 2006 – met Emma in 2004, while she was working as a TV presenter for MTV, and has said previously that he knew instantly that she was The One.
PRIVATE
The pair went on to have three children, Isabelle, now 13, Ace, 11 – who Emma revealed in 2020 that they are raising gender neutrally – and Trixie, six, but at the beginning of their relationship, Matt was still deep into his addictions.
His documentary marks the first time former Big Brother presenter Emma has spoken publicly about his struggles, and she reveals that while she never pressured him to become sober, she had a diary in which she would make a note of what it was that he had consumed that day for fear that paramedics could need the information at any time.
With the making
