Emma Willis has shared a loving tribute to her husband Matt Willis on his birthday, days before the release of the musician's documentary. Matt rose to fame in the 90s pop band Busted, and has spoken openly about his battle with drugs and alcohol over the years, which will be looked at in his documentary.
Released on Monday, May 15, the BBC One documentary, titled Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction, will explore the star's addiction and see him speak to other addicts and experts in his efforts to better understand himself. It will also look at some of his "darkest days" and the impact that it had on himself and his wife.
Emma posted a picture of herself and Matt outside in the sunshine on Monday, May 8, which showed them looking lovingly at each other whilst Emma had her arms wrapped around her husband's waist as he pulled his arm around her reports Manchester Evening News.
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The 47 year old wrote: "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…"
Emma's celebrity followers were quick to respond to the post. Former Bake Off champion, Candice Brown, said: "Just pure love. So gorgeous to see you."
TV 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.
The birthday tribute comes after several interviews with Matt were 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 from 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: "It was hard for me to see how much that fear was still prevalent for her.”
Matt went on to say that 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. He said: "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."
Speaking to OK! Magazine about her husband's struggles, Emma 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 he 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.
After being offered a single line he spiralled to the point where he was 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.
She said: "You kind of kick yourself a bit on reflection because you're like how did I not see that. All those key signs that I hadn't seen for so many years were all coming back."
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