Emma Willis has shared a gushing tribute to her husband Matt Willis on his birthday which has fallen ahead of the release of his documentary. The singer and musician, who rose to fame in 90s pop punk band Busted, has spoken openly about his battle with drugs and alcohol over the years.
But next Monday (May 15), Matt will appear in his own documentary which will see him look back at some of Willis’s "darkest days" as he explores what could be behind his addiction and speaks to experts and other addicts to better understand himself.
The BBC One documentary, titled Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction, will also delve into the impact it has had on his wife and TV presenter Emma, who appears close to tears in the film as she tells of her unease that he will relapse again.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
Taking to Instagram on Monday evening (May 8) following the long weekend, Emma posted a picture of herself and Matt outside in the spring sunshine as they looked adoringly at each other, while Emma had her arms wrapped around her husband's waste as he pulled his arm around her.
"Yesterday we were blessed with the sunshine and being surrounded by (almost) everyone we love," the 47-year-old typed alongside the image to her followers. "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…"
And Emma's celebrity followers were quick to respond. Former Bake Off champion Candice Brown said: "Just pure love. So gorgeous to see you." Presenter Laura Whitmore wrote: "Love this." Former I'm A Celebrity winner Giovanni Fletcher added: "Love love love love love!!!!!!" alongside a string of red hearts.
It comes as a bunch of interviews with Matt are released ahead of his documentary airing. He told the Radio Times: "I was young, and I was always the one taking it way further than I should have. The number of blackout moments (due to drinking) I had even up to the age of 20 was huge."
Speaking about his interview on The Jonathan Ross Show more than two decades ago, he said: "That was hardest for me to watch because I’m looking at myself and I’m 20 years old or something and I’m obviously off my face. It’s not rock ‘n’ roll, it wasn’t glamorous, it was really sad."
Speaking about Emma, he added to the publication: "It was hard for me to see how much that fear was still prevalent for her.” And he said the documentary made the couple “realise that we still had some talking to do” and admitted that therapy has proven beneficial in understanding his compulsions and feeling compassion for his younger self.
"I had such a hateful way with myself, but if you look back and you can say, 'You poor little bugger, what were you doing?' That's a different way of looking at the past," he said.
Speaking to OK! Magazine about her husband's struggles over the years, Emma openly said: "Along with addiction comes a lot of bad times. As hard and as bad as that can be and has been, it also is part of who he is and who he is is who I love. We’ve been together for 18 years."
In the last 20 years, Matt has been to rehab four times, and most recently relapsed in 2016 on a Busted reunion tour. His youngest child Trixie was just 10 months and he’d been clean and sober for eight years at the time. Matt spiralled from being offered a single line to taking six grams a day in his recording studio, while hiding the relapse and telling Emma he was writing a new album.
Emma has admitted how she believed he had everything under control and was slow to spot the signs of his relapse. "You kind of kick yourself a bit on reflection because you're like how the f*** didn't I see that?" Emma said. "All those key signs that I hadn't seen for so many years were all coming back."
READ NEXT:
- I'm a Celebrity fans 'gutted' and crying as they make same point about Toff and Andy's exit
- Tina O'Brien told she hasn't aged since 'unrecognisable' throwback snap as Corrie fans feel sick over Corrie sex scenes
- Gemma Atkinson responds to 'aggressive' messages after she reached out for parenting advice
- Tommy Fury flashes ring in video celebrating his birthday after being asked if he and Molly-Mae Hague are married
- Strictly's Gorka Marquez reveals backstage antics with professional dancers as they hit the road ahead of 2023 series
