Emma Willis is married to musician and presenter Matt Willis, best known as the bassist for the pop-punk band Busted. The couple have been together for over two decades and married since 2008, building a reputation as one of the UK’s most beloved presenting duos. They currently co-host Netflix’s Love Is Blind: UK and have spoken openly about the highs and lows that have shaped their enduring partnership. Their relationship has weathered addiction, counselling, and public scrutiny, emerging stronger through communication and mutual support.
Who Is Matt Willis? The Man Behind the Busted Fame
Matt Willis was born Matthew James Willis on 8 May 1983 in Tooting, South London. His early life was marked by his parents’ separation when he was three years old, and he subsequently had three different legal surnames: Willis, Woods, and Sargent. He attended Woking High School before transferring to the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where he crossed paths with future stars including Billie Piper, Amy Winehouse, and McFly’s Tom Fletcher.
Willis rose to fame as the co-founder and bassist of Busted, a band originally named The Termites alongside James Bourne. The group achieved extraordinary success, scoring four UK number-one singles and winning two Brit Awards. The band disbanded in 2005 but reformed in 2015 and continues to tour and release music today.
Beyond his music career, Willis has demonstrated considerable versatility as a television personality. In 2006, he won the sixth series of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!. He has also appeared in EastEnders and the revival of Birds of a Feather, and performed in West End musicals including Wicked, Flashdance: The Musical, and Little Shop of Horrors. He released his debut solo album, Don’t Let It Go to Waste, in 2006.
How Matt and Emma Willis First Met
The couple’s love story began in 2004 when Emma, then working as a presenter for MTV, interviewed Busted. Emma has since revealed a somewhat unusual detail about their first encounter: she first saw Matt on “his wedding day,” which was a staged TV wedding segment for MTV where a fan pretended to marry a Busted member. Despite this odd context, she recalled thinking “underneath all that make-up, he’s actually quite cute.”
However, they did not immediately start dating. The real connection came a year later when Emma spotted the band on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and realised she fancied Matt. Taking matters into her own hands, she called a mutual friend who knew Blue band member Simon Webbe and asked him to pass her number along to Matt.
Matt has admitted he waited three days to call her, following what he now describes as “terrible advice” from his bandmates. Emma has since passionately debunked this approach, urging anyone interested in someone to simply pick up the phone rather than playing games. Despite the delayed call, they began dating in 2005, and the relationship quickly deepened.Quick Bio: Matt Willis
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthew James Willis |
| Age | 43 years old (born 8 May 1983) |
| Birthplace | Tooting, South London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Musician, Songwriter, Television Presenter, Actor |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) approximately |
| Education | Woking High School; Sylvia Young Theatre School |
| Years Active | 2000s – present |
| Notable Works | Busted albums including Busted (2002) and A Present for Everyone (2003); solo album Don’t Let It Go to Waste (2006); Winner of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! (2006); Co-host of Love Is Blind: UK and Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones |
| Awards | Two Brit Awards with Busted (Best British Breakthrough Act and Best Pop Act, both 2004) |
| Net Worth | Estimated £4-5 million (approximate, based on publicly available estimates) |
| Spouse or Partner | Emma Willis (née Griffiths, married 5 July 2008) |
| Social Media | Instagram: @mattjwillis; Twitter/X: @mattjwillis |
The Engagement and Wedding
Matt proposed to Emma during a romantic trip to Venice in 2007, getting down on one knee on the Rialto Bridge. Emma has described the proposal as “embarrassing” and “mortifying” because they were surrounded by onlookers who recognised Matt. The couple’s wedding took place on 5 July 2008 at Rushton Hall in Northamptonshire, with a guest list that included Holly Willoughby, Jason Donovan, and members of McFly. The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” served as their first dance.
The couple have three children together: Isabelle, born in 2009; Ace, born in 2011; and Trixie, born in 2016. In 2018, to mark their 10th wedding anniversary, they renewed their vows at the same venue with Stephen Mulhern officiating.
Matt Willis’s Battle with Addiction
Behind the public success story, the couple have navigated significant challenges, most notably Matt’s long-standing addiction to drugs and alcohol. He has been to rehab four times, beginning with a three-week stay at London’s Priory Hospital in 2005 when he was just 21 years old. He was admitted again in 2006 for drug abuse related to cannabis, and in 2008 he entered a rehab centre in Bournemouth after a marriage ultimatum, completing the full five-week course.
One of the darkest periods came while Emma was away filming in Mexico, when Matt was drinking 24/7 and feared he might die. A stranger ultimately helped him return to rehab after he had fled the facility. The birth of their daughter Isabelle served as a significant catalyst for his dedication to recovery.
In 2023, Matt explored his journey publicly in the BBC documentary Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction, which garnered two million viewers. The film showed him visiting the rehab centre that made a real difference to his recovery and meeting with researchers at Imperial College London studying the neurological differences between people with addiction and those without. He has been sober since 2016, describing this achievement as a “miracle.”
The Couple’s Approach to Marriage Counselling
The couple sought marriage counselling in 2020 to address recurring issues in their relationship. Matt revealed they kept having “the same conversation over and over again, never getting anywhere” until professional help enabled them to get to the root of the problem. He described the underlying issue as “small” but one that had become “massive” through repeated patterns of miscommunication.
Emma has said she knew Matt was “unwell but didn’t want to be” and that their relationship was “100% worth fighting for.” She has also stated that she “won’t allow” divorce to happen, reflecting a deep commitment to making the marriage work through difficult periods. Matt has credited his sobriety as the foundation for everything else in his life, saying: “If I lose that, I lose everything else, and that’s not an option.”
What Keeps Their Marriage Strong
The couple attribute their enduring bond to several key principles, chief among them communication. Emma emphasises that couples should communicate about problems and work to make things work for both partners, rather than trying to change each other. She has said: “There have been times when we’ve tried to change each other, and actually, you kinda go, ‘Yeah, but I love all of him so… or all of her. So why am I trying to change?'”
Another significant factor is their genuine enjoyment of each other’s company. Emma has told Closer magazine: “You’d think if you lived and worked together, you’d be like, ‘Christ, I need a break!’ But we don’t. We just absolutely love being with each other all the time.” Matt has described Emma as his “best mate” and said that working together on Love Is Blind: UK is his favourite job.
The couple also balance each other well. Emma describes herself as “quite anxious” and a planner, while Matt is more spontaneous, meaning they “even each other out.” Matt has also sought constructive feedback from Emma on areas he needs to improve, such as following through on his many ideas, demonstrating a willingness to grow within the relationship.
Life Together Today: A Working Power Couple
Matt and Emma have increasingly worked together professionally in recent years. They co-host Love Is Blind: UK on Netflix, which returned for a new series in August 2026. Emma has said that she “absolutely loves being with him all the time,” even when living and working together. They also presented Channel 4’s Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones together.
Emma has also been announced as a host for Strictly Come Dancing in autumn 2026, stepping in alongside Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe. Matt continues to work on his solo podcast On The Mend, where he interviews guests who have “hit rock bottom and made it through to the other side,” and co-hosts the comedy podcast When No One Is Watching with Matt Richardson.
In his ongoing advocacy work, Matt has fronted the BBC series Matt Willis: The Recovery Project, which explores how meaningful employment and community support can help people in recovery rebuild their lives. Filmed in south Wales, the documentary series tackles what he calls the “stigma” addicts face in getting back into the workplace, with drug-related deaths in the UK getting “aggressively worse.”
The Legacy of a Celebrity Love Story
The Willis marriage stands out in the entertainment industry for its resilience and authenticity. Matt and Emma have refused to present a sanitised version of their relationship, instead speaking candidly about the counselling, addiction, and communication struggles that have shaped their life together. Matt has been open about his drinking from the age of 11 and his addiction to cannabis from the age of 13, and the couple have used their platform to raise awareness about addiction recovery.
Their story demonstrates that long-term marriage requires communication, resilience, and a willingness to work through difficulties together. It also shows that genuine partnership can survive public scrutiny and personal struggles, emerging stronger on the other side. The couple continue to work together, raise their three children, and support each other through the challenges of life in the public eye.
The best way to see their dynamic for yourself is to watch them on Love Is Blind: UK, where their chemistry and mutual respect are on full display. In an era of celebrity relationships that often prove fleeting, Matt and Emma Willis remain a testament to what is possible when two people genuinely like each other and are willing to fight for their relationship. Their story continues to unfold, both on screen and off, as one of the UK’s most enduring showbusiness partnerships.Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Emma Willis’s husband?
Emma Willis is married to Matt Willis, the bassist and co-founder of the pop-punk band Busted. The couple first met in 2004 when Emma interviewed the band for MTV, and they have been married since July 2008 . Together they co-host Netflix’s Love Is Blind: UK .
How long have Emma and Matt Willis been married?
Emma and Matt Willis have been married since 5 July 2008, making their marriage over 18 years as of 2026 . They celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in 2018 by renewing their vows at the same venue, Rushton Hall in Northamptonshire, where they originally tied the knot .
How did Matt Willis overcome his addiction?
Matt Willis has been open about his addiction struggles, having attended rehab four times. He has been clean and sober since 2016, a period he describes as a “miracle” . He documented his recovery journey in the BBC documentary Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction, which explored his battles with drugs and alcohol and the pressure it placed on his family .
Have Emma and Matt Willis attended couples counselling?
Yes, the couple sought couples counselling to address a recurring issue in their relationship. Matt revealed they kept having the “same conversation over and over again, never getting anywhere” until counselling helped them get to the root of the problem. He described the underlying issue as “small” but one that had become “massive” over time .
