Brief

Matt Willis credits Emma Willis for rescuing him from addiction

The Busted frontman says Emma Willis was pivotal in his recovery and credits their three children for keeping him clean.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 03 Oct 2026 18:08:52 GMT

Matt Willis, 43, told The Independent that his wife, TV presenter Emma Willis, was crucial in his battle against alcohol and cocaine addiction. He said he has been sober for more than 16 years and clean for nine, after once using four grams of cocaine a day.

What happened

Willis met Emma in 2004 when she interviewed his band Busted for MTV. They married in 2008 after Willis had attended rehab three times. The couple have three children – Isabelle (17), Ace (14) and Trixie (10) – and began co‑hosting the reality dating show Love Is Blind in 2024.

What the reports add

The Independent notes that Willis relapsed on cocaine in 2017 during a festival tour but stopped that same night, saying honesty with Emma gave him a way out. He also recalled missing his daughter’s first crawling moments because of relapse, describing the guilt as “unliveable.”

What was said

"If I didn’t have her, I don’t know where I would have ended up," Willis said, adding that Emma’s love made him feel he was worth changing for. He told The Telegraph, "Knowing I had her was enough for me to go, ‘OK, maybe I’m worth doing this for.’" He praised Emma’s natural on‑screen presence, calling her "a weapon" during their joint hosting duties.

Key facts

Matt Willis has been sober for over 16 years and clean for nine. (independent.co.uk)
He met Emma Willis in 2004 during an MTV interview with Busted. (independent.co.uk)
The couple married in 2008 after Willis attended rehab three times. (independent.co.uk)
They have three children: Isabelle, Ace and Trixie. (independent.co.uk)
Willis and Emma co‑hosted 'Love Is Blind' starting in 2024. (independent.co.uk)