Emma and Matt Willis, celebrated for their enduring partnership, have shared their lives for over twenty years, marking 18 years of marriage. Their love story began in 2004, when Emma, then a host on Strictly Come Dancing, crossed paths with Matt, the bassist for Busted, during an interview with his band. It wasn’t until a year later that the duo started dating, leading to their engagement in 2007.
The couple tied the knot the following year in a lavish ceremony at Rushton Hall, located in the picturesque Northamptonshire countryside. Their wedding drew in family, friends, and numerous well-known personalities such as McFly, Holly Willoughby, David Gest, and Jason Donovan. Today, the couple enjoys life with their three children: Isabelle, Ace, and Trixie. However, their journey hasn’t always been smooth, with challenges like Matt’s battle with addiction. Together, they have recently taken on hosting duties for Netflix’s Love Is Blind: UK, which premieres today, August 19, and they’ve shed light on the intricacies of relationships in modern times.
In a candid discussion on the Tea At Four podcast, Matt expressed that some individuals navigating the world of modern dating might be “missing out” on significant experiences.
Matt remarked, “The humor in this show is evident when you witness people declaring, ‘Aw, I wouldn’t do this, I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t be with someone who doesn’t spend a certain amount on a date’. There’s this extensive checklist of what’s acceptable,” he mused.
“By doing this, you’re potentially overlooking incredible experiences that don’t fit the standard criteria, especially when you have no preconceptions about who the person truly is,” he added.
The conversation then turned to the idea that couples are often strongest when they accept there will always be a few things that grate. With that in mind, Emma explained how she sees her relationship with Matt.
Emma said: “And not trying to change someone. 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?”
“‘Let’s communicate and go, this has p*****d me off or this is not working for me’, rather than going, ‘Well, it’s not working’. How do we make it work for both of us? Or how do we work around it?
“Swings and roundabouts. But at the same time, I haven’t got a f*******g clue.”
Emma has also hinted at what keeps their marriage strong. The TV presenter—set to host Strictly Come Dancing this autumn with Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe—said she and Matt simply “love being with each other.”
She told Closer: “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 added: “Of all the things I do, Love Is Blind is my favourite and it’s mainly because I’m working with Emma.
“We get to do this really cool job together, we get flown around the world with this amazing show which is all about love, and I’m with my best mate every day.”