Matt Willis feared Emma would never trust him again after ‘messing up’: “I Put My Family Through Something I Never Wanted To”

Matt Willis, the host of Love Is Blind: UK, recently opened up about the intense guilt and fear he experienced following his last relapse, worrying that his wife, Emma Willis, might never trust him again. The Busted bassist and the television star have been married for over 16 years, during which Matt has struggled with addiction to alcohol and cannabis.

During a Q&A on his On The Mend podcast, Matt, 41, candidly discussed the aftermath of his relapse in 2016, when he was consuming up to 6g of cocaine a day. Reflecting on that dark period, he revealed that he urged Emma, 48, to “get out while she still could.” However, Emma chose to stay by his side, expressing her belief in Matt’s ability to recover and her desire to help him through his struggles, reported The Mirror.

On his podcast, Matt shared how he managed to overcome the overwhelming guilt associated with his relapse by committing to long-term change. “I put my family through something I never wanted to, and that can eat you up if you let it,” he said. “But I’m not willing to let that happen, so I put the work in—it all comes from action.”

Matt addressed the common issue of self-pity among addicts, describing it as a “very enticing way to feel.” He emphasized the importance of taking responsibility and actively working to rebuild trust, saying, “I think the other option is standing up and going, ‘Yeah, I f***** up, yeah I messed up, and I’m sorry. I’m going to try harder, and I’m going to try to be a better person,’ and over time that guilt and shame fades—and for me, it has.”

Reflecting on his personal journey, Matt expressed amazement that Emma has regained trust in him, something he once thought impossible. “I never thought my wife would trust me again, and she does, she really does. And that’s because I’ve shown her that I’m trustworthy. These things are earned, not given. It will take time, but the guilt will go if you show you’re willing to change.”

Matt emphasized that rebuilding trust wasn’t just about “talking a good talk” but about consistently demonstrating that he could make real changes after his relapse.

Matt and Emma are now co-hosting Love Is Blind: UK, their first joint television presenting job. The popular Netflix show places contestants in pods where they date each other without seeing one another, with the goal of forming connections strong enough to lead to engagement and, ultimately, a wedding.