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Emma Willis
Emma Willis
Emma Willis
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Emma Louise Willis (née Griffiths; born 18 March 1976)[1] is an English broadcaster. She is known for her television and radio work with Channel 5, BBC, ITV and Heart FM.[2][3][4]

Key Information

Willis presented the Channel 5 reality shows Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother (2013–2018), as well as the spin-off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side (2011–2015). She presented the BBC One and ITV1 talent competition show The Voice UK (2014–present), and the children's spin-off The Voice Kids UK (2017–2023). In 2019 and 2021, Willis presented the second and third series of the reality show The Circle on Channel 4. In 2024, she became a co-host of the Netflix dating show Love Is Blind: UK, alongside her husband Matt Willis.

Early life

[edit]

Emma Willis was born in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham,[5] attending Wylde Green Primary School and then John Willmott School in Sutton Coldfield.[6] She began modelling at the age of 15,[7] and during her career worked for a range of magazines, retailers and companies including Marie Claire, Elle, Vogue, GAP and Chanel.[8]

Career

[edit]

Willis got her first big break presenting on MTV in 2002 before presenting various other shows, including guest-hosting shows such as CD:UK, This Morning and Loose Women.

ITV

[edit]

In 2007, Willis presented ITV2 spin-off series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! with her husband Matt before departing in 2008. She presented numerous episodes of The Hot Desk on ITV2 between 2008 and 2014. In September 2012, Willis became a permanent presenter on This Morning, presenting segments in The Hub, taking over from Coleen Nolan. The feature was axed in 2014. She was also a stand-in presenter on the main show when Holly Willoughby or Ruth Langsford were absent[9] and returned to guest present the show with Rylan Clark-Neal in 2018. Willis hosted two series of the ITV2 reality show Girlfriends in 2012 and 2013.[10]

On 16 November 2012, Willis was a guest anchor Loose Women and has since presented on several occasions as a stand-in presenter. In November 2013, Willis guest presented an episode of The Paul O'Grady Show, while O'Grady was away.[11]

In June 2013, Willis co-presented the ITV game show Prize Island with Alexander Armstrong.[12] In February 2015, Willis was a team captain on the six-part ITV2 comedy panel show Reality Bites, hosted by Stephen Mulhern.[13] On 2 July 2015, it was announced that Willis would present a new three-part series for ITV called What Would Be Your Miracle, about modern miracles. The series began on 28 April 2016.[14][15][16] In January 2017, The Voice UK moved from BBC One to ITV. It was confirmed on 9 June 2016 that Willis would present the series after co-hosting three previous series on the BBC.[17] She also presented two series of The Voice Kids on ITV since 2017. In January 2017, she presented The BRITs Are Coming live on ITV. She co-presented the 2017 BRIT Awards in February alongside Dermot O'Leary.[18] She hosted The BRITs Are Coming for a second year in January 2018.[19][20][21] Agreed in August 2017, she presented Your Song in October 2017, a one-off special for ITV.[22][23]

On 3 March 2018, Willis made a surprise appearance on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, as she presented Win the Ads while the main hosts playing the game as part of the show's 100th episode.[24][25][26]

Channel 4

[edit]

In 2007, Willis guest hosted the tenth week of Big Brother's Big Mouth. In 2010, Willis began presenting a Celebrity Big Brother online spin-off show entitled Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on The Side. While presenting the online spin-off in the same series, Willis also presented another edition of Big Mouth when Davina McCall entered the Big Brother house as part of a task. She was then later announced in August as the new co-presenter on the final series of Big Brother's Little Brother, hosting opposite George Lamb.[27]

In June 2019, Willis replaced Alice Levine and Maya Jama as host of The Circle.[28][29]

Channel 5

[edit]

In May 2010, it was announced that Willis would replace Melinda Messenger on the Channel 5 series Live from Studio Five, but after only two months, Willis announced she would be departing in order to co-present Big Brother's Little Brother and was therefore replaced by Jayne Middlemiss.[30]

In August 2011, it was confirmed that she would be returning to the revived series, presenting the spin-off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side.[31]

On 13 March 2013, it was reported that Brian Dowling would be axed from Big Brother[32] and be replaced by Willis with a source saying, 'Brian has been a great host but Emma is seen by channel chiefs as a true successor to Davina. They're talking to her now about taking over the role from the summer.'[2] It was later confirmed, on 2 April 2013 by Channel 5 that Willis would be replacing Dowling as the new host of Big Brother.[4][33] On 13 June 2013, she began presenting the fourteenth series of Big Brother.

Even though Willis presents the main Big Brother and celebrity series, she still continued to host the spin-off show Bit on the Side, sharing the presenting duties with Rylan Clark. On 2 February 2015, it was announced that Willis was to present her final edition of Bit on the Side that night, and Clark would take over as the main presenter of the spin off show.[34]

Willis infamously interrogated Winston McKenzie during his exit interview on Celebrity Big Brother over his controversial opinions. Willis has expressed personal pride on this moment in her career.[35]

On 30 March 2014, Willis presented the Mum of the Year Awards, with the highlights being shown on Channel 5 that same evening.[36]

BBC

[edit]

In September 2013, Willis was confirmed as the replacement for Holly Willoughby on the BBC One talent show The Voice UK. On 11 January 2014, she began co-presenting the third series with JLS singer Marvin Humes, who replaced Reggie Yates.[37]

In March 2014, it was announced that The Voice UK had been renewed for two future series.[38] Both Willis and Humes returned to the show for the fourth series in 2015 and fifth series in 2016. In 2017, the show moved to ITV.[39][40][41]

Willis and Reggie Yates co-hosted the Saturday night game show Prized Apart on BBC One. The series began on 13 June 2015 and was axed after the first series, due to poor ratings.[42]

Radio

[edit]

On 5 August 2012, Willis began co-presenting Sunday Morning Breakfast with Stephen Mulhern across the Heart network. The Show ended in 2018. It was announced in December 2025 that Willis would present a new BBC Radio 2 show beginning in January 2026. The show would run from 1-3pm on Saturdays.[43]

Other work

[edit]

In October 2015, she became the celebrity ambassador for Gillette Venus and Oral-B.[44]

On 21 March 2023, Willis partnered with Absolute Collagen for their 'Strong in your own skin' campaign.[45]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Category Nominated for Result Ref.
2012 National Reality TV Awards Best TV Presenter Nominated [46]
2013 National TV Awards Entertainment Presenter Longlisted [47]
2014 National TV Awards Longlisted [48]
Glamour Awards Best TV Presenter Won [49]
Freesat TV Free Awards Nominated [50]
Digital Spy Awards Nominated [51]
2015 National TV Awards Entertainment Presenter Longlisted
2016 Digital Spy Awards Best TV Presenter Nominated [52]
2017 National TV Awards TV Presenter Longlisted
Glamour Awards TV Personality Won [53]
2018 National Reality TV Awards Best TV Presenter Nominated [54]
Champion of Women Award Style and Spirit Won [55]
I Talk Telly Awards Best TV Presenter Nominated [56]
Digital Spy Awards Nominated [57]
2019 National TV Awards Entertainment Presenter Longlisted
I Talk Telly Awards Best TV Presenter Nominated [58]
Heat Unmissable Awards TV & Radio Presenter Won [59]
2020 National TV Awards TV Presenter Longlisted
I Talk Telly Awards Best TV Presenter Nominated [60]
2022 National TV Awards TV Presenter Longlisted
2023 National TV Awards Longlisted

Personal life

[edit]

On 5 July 2008, Emma Griffiths married Busted member Matt Willis at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire, after three years of dating. The wedding was featured in OK magazine.[61] She gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Isabelle, on 20 June 2009.[62] On 25 November 2011, the couple had a second child, a son named Ace. On 4 May 2016, Willis gave birth to their third child, a second daughter, named Trixie Grace.[63][64]

In an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, Willis confirmed that she has longstanding roots in Birmingham, with her family tree being traced back to her great-great-great-grandfather, who was named James Gretton and was listed as a Horn and Hair Merchant in the census records.[65] She also found she had Irish ancestors, a fact that came as a surprise to her. The revelations about her ancestry left her extremely uncomfortable with the actions of one, who she discovered was a violent Orangeman, but overall, she was happy to have found a connection to her more broad Irish heritage.[66]

Willis is a supporter of Aston Villa.[67]

In August 2019, Willis obtained a qualification as a maternity care assistant following her experience on the W series Delivering Babies.[68]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021, Willis and her husband completed training with St John Ambulance to act as vaccination volunteers.[69]

In May 2023, Willis was featured in the documentary, Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction. The documentary, which aired on the BBC on 17 May 2023, followed Willis and her husband as they spoke about the latter's addiction issues.[70][71][72]

Filmography

[edit]
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2002–2003 MTV UK Presenter
2003–2005 Total Request Live
2005, 2007, 2010 Big Brother's Big Mouth Guest presenter
2007–2008 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! Co-presenter 2 series
2008–2014 The Hot Desk Presenter Various episodes
2008 Red Bull Flugtag Co-presenter
27 Dresses: Movie Special Presenter
2010 Live from Studio Five[citation needed] Co-presenter
The Real Hustle Herself
Big Brother's Little Brother Co-presenter 1 series
2011–2015 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 8 series
2011–2014 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 4 series
2012–2014, 2018 This Morning "Hub" presenter Regular
2012–2014, 2018, 2023–present Stand-in presenter 11 episodes
2012–2013, 2021 Loose Women Anchor 8 episodes
2012–2013 Girlfriends[73] Presenter 2 series
2013 Speidi: Scandal, Secrets & Surgery! Narrator One-off episode
Prize Island Co-presenter 1 series
The Paul O'Grady Show Guest presenter 1 episode
2013–2018 Big Brother Presenter 6 series
2013–2018 Celebrity Big Brother 11 series
2014–present The Voice UK 10 Series
2015 Reality Bites[74] Team captain 1 series
Prized Apart[75] Co-presenter 1 series
2016 What Would Be Your Miracle?[76] Presenter 1 series
BRITs Icon: Robbie Williams Narrator One-off episode
2017 BRIT Awards Co-presenter 37th event
2017–2023 The Voice Kids Presenter 7 series
2017 Your Song[77][78] One-off episode
2017–2018 The Keith & Paddy Picture Show Janine Melnitz/Rizzo 2 episodes
2018–present Emma Willis: Delivering Babies[79] Presenter Documentary series
2019 Comic Relief Presenter Telethon
Pants on Fire
2019–2021 The Circle Series 2 - Series 3
2021 The Celebrity Circle Series 1
2021-Present Cooking with the Stars Co-presenter Series 1-present
2021 Emma and AJ Get to Work Co-presenter Alongside AJ Odudu
2022 The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C Herself Series 5; episode 1
The Great Home Transformation Co-presenter With Nick Grimshaw[80]
2023, 2024 The World Cook Co-presenter With Fred Sirieix[81]
2023 Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction Herself BBC documentary
Love Is Blind: UK Co-presenter
2024 Team GB's Homecoming by The National Lottery Co-host With Vernon Kay[82]
Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones Co-presenter With Matt Willis[83]
2025
Love Is Blind: UK Co-presenter
Change your Mind, Change your Life Co-presenter With Matt Willis[84]
Radio
Year Station Show Role
2012–2018 Heart Network Sunday mornings Co-presenter
2026–present BBC Radio 2 Saturday Afternoons 1-3pm Presenter

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Emma Willis

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Emma Willis (born Emma Louise Griffiths; 18 March 1976) is an English television presenter, radio personality, and former model, best known for hosting major reality and talent shows in the United Kingdom. Born in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Willis began her career as a model at the age of 15, appearing in advertising campaigns for brands such as Gap, Chanel, and Samsung, and in magazines including Marie Claire and Elle. She transitioned to television in 2002, joining MTV UK where she presented Total Request Live until 2005, and later contributed to Channel 4's T4 and shows such as Big Brother's Big Mouth and Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side. Willis rose to prominence in 2013 as the host of Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5, a role she held until 2018, and she has co-hosted The Voice UK on ITV and since 2014, including the children's spin-off The Voice Kids UK from 2017 to 2023. Other notable projects include presenting the , the series Emma Willis: Delivering Babies since 2018, and in 2025, co-hosting Love Is Blind UK Season Two alongside her husband, . In her personal life, Willis married musician of the band in 2008 at Rushton Hall, , with whom she renewed her vows in 2018; the couple has three children—Isabelle (born 2009), Ace (born 2011), and Trixie (born 2016). A Birmingham native, she became a patron of Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital and its charity in 2025, supporting regional, national, and international efforts in treatment, care, and research, driven by her long-standing connection to the institution that has aided her family and friends.

Early life and education

Childhood and family

Emma Willis was born Emma Louise Griffiths on 18 March 1976 in , a town in the West Midlands near Birmingham, . She grew up in the Birmingham area as the middle child of three daughters born to parents Steve and Cathy Griffiths, with her father working as a postman and her mother serving as a nurse in the . Willis's family home was in , where she was raised in a close-knit household influenced by her local roots, including a lifelong support for Aston Villa Football Club that began in her youth. In a 2017 episode of the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, Willis explored her heritage and discovered Irish ancestry on her father's side, tracing it to 19th-century roots in Ireland that included both Protestant and Catholic branches, a revelation that surprised her given her prior unawareness of this connection.

Schooling and early career

Willis attended Wylde Green Primary School in Sutton Coldfield, followed by John Willmott School, also in the Birmingham area. While still in secondary school, she began modeling at the age of 15, securing assignments with prominent brands including Vogue, Chanel, and Elle. She left school at 17 to commit to modeling full-time, which involved extensive travel for international work across and . This phase of her career transitioned into television in 2002, when she made her debut appearance presenting on .

Broadcasting career

Early television and modeling

Willis began her professional career as a model at the age of 15 while still in school, securing work with prominent fashion brands and publications during the and early . She featured in advertising campaigns for GAP and , alongside editorial shoots for magazines including , Elle, and Vogue. This modeling experience provided a foundation in media and performance, leading to her transition into television presenting in 2002 when she joined . Over the next four years, Willis hosted a range of music and entertainment programs on the channel, including the UK edition of TRL, Sugar Style, Backstage, and coverage of major events such as the and the concert. During her MTV tenure, Willis also guest-presented on other music shows, including segments for and RI:SE, broadening her exposure in the broadcasting industry. It was amid this period of overlapping modeling and early TV work that she met her future husband, musician , in 2004 while interviewing him and his band , with the pair beginning to date in 2005. By 2010, Willis had begun contributing to Channel 5 with early presenting roles focused on music and lifestyle content, such as co-presenting Live from Studio Five, marking her initial foray into the network before more prominent reality television commitments.

Channel 5

Emma Willis began her prominent tenure on Channel 5 in 2011 by hosting the spin-off program Big Brother's Bit on the Side, a daily late-night companion show to the main Big Brother series that featured discussions, interviews, and reactions from evicted housemates and celebrities. She continued in this role until February 2015, when she stepped down to focus on the primary series, with Rylan Clark taking over as the sole presenter for non-eviction nights. In 2013, Willis transitioned to the main hosting duties for both Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5, replacing Dowling and becoming the face of the franchise's live evictions, finales, and daily updates. Her role involved guiding viewers through the high-stakes drama of housemate nominations, challenges, and eliminations, contributing to the shows' status as Channel 5's flagship reality programming during this period. She hosted a total of 17 series across the two formats from 2013 to 2018, including notable seasons like Celebrity Big Brother 12 in 2014, which featured high-profile contestants and intense live interactions. Willis's time with the Big Brother franchise on Channel 5 concluded in 2018 following the announcement that the broadcaster would not renew the show after its 19th civilian series and 22nd celebrity edition. During the emotional finale on November 5, 2018, she bid farewell to the audience and cast, reflecting on the six years that solidified her as a key figure in British . The decision to axe the program was part of Channel 5's strategic shift, leaving Willis to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Channel 4

Emma Willis joined as the host of the reality competition The Circle for its second series in 2019 and third series in 2021. The show features contestants living in isolated apartments within the same building, interacting solely through a custom application called The Circle, where they create profiles—often fake ones to "catfish" others—and compete for popularity based on ratings from their peers. The most popular player at the end of the series wins a cash prize of up to £100,000. Willis's hosting brought a dynamic energy to the format, with live studio segments where she interviewed eliminated players and revealed twists, emphasizing the psychological aspects of and . In the 2019 series, key episodes included the launch where eight contestants entered and immediately rated each other, leading to the first blocking, and a mid-season celebrity catfish twist featuring drag queen posing as a 19-year-old , which heightened the drama around authenticity. The series concluded with , a 27-year-old from using a fake profile as a 21-year-old woman, winning the £90,000 prize after outmaneuvering competitors through strategic messaging. The 2021 series introduced further innovations like double ratings and a "judgement week" where players anonymously accused others of , culminating in Manrika Khaira, a 29-year-old from , emerging as the winner with £80,000 after navigating intense alliances and betrayals. These seasons highlighted Channel 4's edgier take on social experiments, exploring digital personas in an era of online anonymity. Beyond The Circle, Willis co-hosted the 2022 makeover series The Great Home Transformation with , where the duo used a "truck of wonders" filled with products to completely redesign struggling families' homes in just three days, focusing on practical, budget-friendly innovations to improve daily life. In 2024, she and her husband presented the two-part documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones, a at in where Year 8 pupils surrendered their devices for 21 days to examine the impact of on and behavior; the series featured expert insights and emotional testimonials from participants, underscoring the challenges of in modern . These projects showcased Willis's versatility in Channel 4's blend of reality entertainment and thought-provoking documentaries.

ITV

Emma Willis joined ITV in 2017 as the host of The Voice UK, continuing her role from the BBC where she had presented the show from 2014 to 2016. She oversees the blind auditions, battle rounds, knockouts, and live shows, guiding contestants through the competition while interacting with celebrity coaches such as will.i.am, Tom Jones, Olly Murs, and Anne-Marie. In a notable twist during the 2023 series, Willis briefly served as a guest coach, marking her first time in that position after nearly a decade as host. The show returned for its 13th series in August 2024, with Willis confirmed as host, airing weekly on ITV1 and featuring new coaches LeAnn Rimes and McFly's Danny Jones alongside returning regulars. The 2024 finale, hosted by Willis, crowned Ava Rose as the winner on October 26. Willis also hosted the children's spin-off The Voice Kids UK on ITV from its debut in 2017 through 2023, adapting the format for young performers aged 7 to 14 with coaches including , , and . The series emphasized fun and supportive elements, such as group performances and family involvement during live finals, and concluded its run after seven seasons in December 2023. Beyond talent competitions, Willis contributed to ITV's lifestyle programming with regular segments on This Morning throughout the , covering topics like , , and celebrity interviews as a guest presenter and contributor. She narrated and presented the dating reality series Girlfriends on from 2012 to 2013, where three single women cohabited while auditioning potential partners from a pool of 100 men across two seasons. Additionally, Willis hosted The BRITs Are Coming, the pre-awards nominations show, for two series in 2017 and 2018, announcing British music accolades live from with musical performances and artist interviews.

BBC

Emma Willis began her prominent association with the BBC in 2014 as co-host of the talent competition , partnering with for the show's third, fourth, and fifth series on . The program featured blind auditions, battle rounds, and live performances by aspiring singers vying for a recording contract with Universal Music, drawing significant viewership during her tenure and establishing Willis as a key figure in the format's early success on the broadcaster. Following the 2016 series, transitioned to ITV, where Willis continued as host. In 2015, Willis presented the adventure game show Prized Apart on BBC One, co-hosting with Reggie Yates across six episodes. The series separated ten couples onto different continents—including Morocco, Borneo, and Iceland—for survival challenges and competitions, with the winning pair claiming a £100,000 prize; filming emphasized international locations to heighten the drama of separation and reunion. Despite positive reviews for its innovative format, the show averaged around 3 million viewers and was not renewed for a second series. Willis also contributed to BBC specials during this period, including guest involvement in the 2015 appeal through promotions, where she and the show's coaches offered VIP experiences to support fundraising for children's charities. Her appearances helped integrate entertainment programming with charitable efforts, aligning with the BBC's tradition of annual telethons.

Radio and podcasting

Emma Willis entered radio broadcasting in 2012, co-presenting the Sunday Morning Breakfast show on the Heart FM network. She partnered primarily with Stephen Mulhern for the two-hour weekly program, which aired from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and featured music, celebrity interviews, and listener interactions across the Heart network. The show ran until 2018, when Willis and Mulhern announced a summer break that marked the end of their tenure, allowing Willis to shift focus toward other opportunities. Following her Heart FM stint, Willis transitioned to guest and cover presenting roles on starting in 2019. She has filled in for regular hosts on various programs, including Saturday mornings and special segments like Tracks of My Years, where she shared personal music selections in 2024. Additional appearances include sitting in for in 2023 and hosting episodes with celebrity guests such as and . These engagements highlighted her versatility in audio formats beyond commercial radio. Post-2018, Willis increasingly engaged in podcasting, particularly through joint appearances with her husband, , on topics related to recovery. Matt's On The Mend, launched in July 2023, explores resilience and , with Willis featuring in episodes such as the 2024 discussion on and recovery's impact on relationships. They continued collaborating in 2025, including a guest spot on Rylan's How to Be in Love , where they addressed sustaining partnerships amid personal challenges like . This move to digital audio platforms allowed Willis to delve into more intimate, conversational content focused on personal growth and support.

Streaming platforms and documentaries

In 2024, Emma Willis expanded her television presence into streaming platforms by co-hosting the Netflix reality series Love Is Blind: UK alongside her husband, Matt Willis. The show, a British adaptation of the American format, premiered its first season on August 7, 2024, featuring singles who form emotional connections and propose marriage without seeing each other, followed by real-world challenges. Willis and her co-host emphasized the production's incorporation of a "very British" sensibility, including self-deprecating humor, banter, and cultural nuances like reserved romance, which differentiated it from the U.S. version while maintaining the core social experiment structure. Season 2 followed in 2025, with the reunion special airing on August 31, further solidifying the series' international appeal on Netflix. Willis also ventured into documentary-style content with the 2025 BBC series Change Your Mind, Change Your Life, co-presented with , which explores through real-life sessions. Premiering on May 13, 2025, on and available via , the series pairs participants facing everyday challenges—such as anxiety and relationship issues—with leading British therapists, documenting their transformational journeys to highlight 's role in navigating modern life. The program received attention for its insightful, non-sensationalized approach to mental wellbeing, drawing on the hosts' personal experiences to foster relatability. Post-2023, Willis participated in additional streaming specials, including the Channel 4 two-part documentary Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones in December 2024, co-hosted with Matt Willis, which examines smartphone addiction among teenagers through a 21-day device-free experiment at an Essex school. Available on All 4, the series underscores international concerns over digital impacts on youth, aligning with broader global discussions on tech regulation. These projects mark Willis's growing involvement in cross-platform, issue-driven content beyond traditional broadcasting.

Other professional activities

Charity and advocacy work

Emma Willis has undertaken hands-on volunteering in maternity care, training as a Maternity Care Assistant (MCA) at Princess Alexandra Hospital in , , where she worked four shifts a week for three months starting in 2018 to support midwifery teams and expectant mothers. This experience formed the basis of the W documentary series Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, which highlighted the realities of NHS maternity services, including patient support during labor and postnatal care. The second series, filmed in 2020 amid the , focused on adaptations like in delivery rooms and emotional challenges for families, with Willis noting the heightened vulnerabilities in during this period. In 2021, during the height of the pandemic, Willis volunteered for vaccination efforts, completing training with alongside her husband Matt to administer jabs in communities. She returned to her MCA role in early 2024 at General Hospital for the fourth series of Delivering Babies, assisting on wards and in community settings to aid expectant mothers recovering from pandemic disruptions. Willis has advocated for mental health awareness through a supportive role in the 2023 BBC documentary Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction, where she shared insights into the family impacts of recovery, emphasizing the need for accessible support services. In the series, she described the emotional toll on relationships, contributing to broader discussions on overcoming and promoting recovery resources. Her work has extended to campaigns preventing baby loss, including support for Tommy's, a charity, by featuring their initiatives in Delivering Babies to urge greater government aid for affected families. Through these efforts, Willis has raised visibility for maternity and bereavement services, drawing from her frontline observations to underscore systemic improvements in care.

Patronages and ambassadorships

Emma Willis was appointed patron of the Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital and Charity in late September 2025, a role she described as a "dream come true" due to her longstanding advocacy for the institution over the past decade. In this capacity, she champions the hospitals' efforts in pediatric care, maternity services, and neonatal support, aiming to raise awareness and secure funding for treatment, research, and patient care across the region. The organization, part of the Birmingham Women's and Children's , annually supports over 140,000 women, children, and families, including approximately 8,200 births and care for 100,000 pediatric patients. Willis has served as an ambassador for The , supporting initiatives that empower young people through education, employment, and entrepreneurship programs. As a lifelong Aston Villa supporter from her Birmingham roots, In 2025, Willis endorsed initiatives through her co-hosting of the series Change Your Mind, Change Your Life, which draws on her and her husband Matt Willis's personal family experiences with therapy and recovery to promote accessible mental health support.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Emma Willis met , a member of the pop band , in 2004 while she was working as a presenter on and interviewing him and his bandmates. They began dating the following year and became engaged in 2007 during a trip to , where Matt proposed on the . The couple married on 5 July 2008 at , a 15th-century stately home in , in a ceremony attended by close friends and family from the entertainment industry. To mark their tenth anniversary, they renewed their vows in 2018 in a star-studded ceremony. Willis and her husband have three children: a daughter, Isabelle Catherine Willis, born on 20 June 2009; a son, Ace Billy Willis, born on 25 November 2011; and another daughter, Trixie Grace Willis, born on 4 May 2016. The family resides in a £1.7 million mansion in , where they have undertaken renovations including an outdoor swimming pool and a landscaped to accommodate their active lifestyle. The couple has spoken openly about the challenges of balancing their demanding media careers with , emphasizing the importance of communication and mutual support. Matt has described himself as a "phenomenal dad" who occasionally acts like "the fourth child," while Emma has highlighted their commitment to family priorities amid professional commitments. They attended marriage counseling in 2020 to strengthen their relationship, with Emma stating, "I won’t allow divorce to happen to us – and I won’t let him do it either!" Willis and her husband frequently make joint public appearances, which often blend their professional and personal lives, such as co-hosting seasons of the version of Love Is Blind on in 2024 and 2025. These collaborations have positively influenced their family dynamics by allowing them to share experiences and model partnership for their children.

Health and personal interests

In 2019, Willis qualified as a maternity care assistant after training at Princess Alexandra Hospital in , where she assisted with deliveries and patient care during the filming of the documentary series Delivering Babies. Her passion for stemmed from personal family experiences, including her own three pregnancies and births, which highlighted the vital role of midwives during vulnerable moments, as well as her parents' long-term involvement in the NHS—her mother as a maternity care assistant and theatre assistant, and her father as a postman delivering to a local hospital. She has described the process of witnessing births as "the most magical thing to experience," emphasizing its emotional depth and her respect for healthcare workers. Willis has been a steadfast supporter of her husband Matt Willis's recovery from , standing by him through multiple rehab stints, including one just days before their 2008 and a in 2016. has provided key insights into their relationship, transforming it positively by fostering open communication and resilience; she has noted that it had "the biggest impact... in the most positive way," despite initial reservations, and helped them navigate challenges as a unit. She has expressed pride in his progress, stating, "He’s come a long way and I don’t doubt he’ll go even further," while acknowledging the ongoing strain, such as feeling at times like she has "four kids instead of three." Among her personal interests, Willis is a lifelong fan of Aston Villa Football Club, her hometown team from Birmingham, having supported them since childhood. She maintains a dedicated fitness routine to support her physical and mental well-being, incorporating , reformer , and ice baths, the latter of which she credits with boosting her energy and confidence after sessions encouraged by her husband. In 2017, she explored her ancestry on the series Who Do You Think You Are?, uncovering deep Birmingham roots alongside unexpected Irish connections through an ; one ancestral line revealed and hardship, while another highlighted determination and craftsmanship that resonated with her own life. Since the 2010s, Willis and her family have resided in a countryside home in , , embracing a quieter rural amid the area's green landscapes and average house prices exceeding £500,000, which suits their preference for a low-key family environment away from urban bustle.

Awards and nominations

Awards won

Emma Willis has been recognized with several prestigious awards for her contributions to television presenting, particularly during her tenure hosting reality and talent shows. In 2014, she received the Glamour Women of the Year Award for Best TV Presenter, honoring her engaging hosting of Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5, which helped solidify her status as a leading figure in reality television. She won the Glamour Women of the Year Award for TV Personality of the Year in 2017, an accolade that celebrated her broader impact on British broadcasting through high-profile roles on programs like and her continued success with Big Brother.

Notable nominations

Emma Willis has garnered significant recognition for her presenting skills, with multiple nominations across major British television awards ceremonies, particularly highlighting her work on reality and talent shows from the onward. Her nominations underscore a consistent pattern of acclaim for engaging audiences in high-profile formats like Big Brother, , and , spanning over a decade of career milestones. Between 2012 and 2018, Willis received several nominations for Best Presenter at the (NTAs), often tied to her hosting duties on Big Brother and . Notable instances include a longlist placement for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter in 2013 ahead of the 2014 ceremony and a shortlist nomination in , where she competed alongside peers like and Dec. These repeated nods, totaling at least five in the category during this period, reflect her rising prominence in entertainment broadcasting during the . In 2015, The Voice UK, hosted by Willis, was nominated for Best Entertainment Programme at the BAFTA Television Awards, recognizing the show's innovative format and her contributions as host. This accolade marked one of her highest-profile industry endorsements, emphasizing the critical success of the series under her presentation. She was shortlisted for Best Presenter at the 2018 National Reality TV Awards for her overall reality hosting. Overall, Willis has accumulated more than a dozen notable nominations across these awards, with a concentration in the for mainstream entertainment and a shift toward specialized reality recognition in recent years. In 2025, she was longlisted for TV Presenter at the .

Filmography

Television presenting

Emma Willis has established herself as a prominent , particularly in reality and entertainment formats, with a career spanning major channels including Channel 5, , ITV, and . Her hosting roles often involve live events, talent competitions, and documentary-style series, showcasing her engaging on-screen presence. She first gained significant visibility through guest hosting on ITV's This Morning in the , including a brief stint as a permanent segment presenter for "The Hub" in 2012. In 2025, she returned to host multiple episodes, co-presenting with and in May and August. Willis's breakthrough came with Channel 5's Big Brother, where she served as the main host from 2013 to 2018, succeeding Brian Dowling and overseeing both the civilian and celebrity editions. She hosted 11 series of Celebrity Big Brother during this period, including notable seasons such as the 2014 "Power Trip" launch and various housemate evictions and finales. Additionally, she presented the spin-off Big Brother's Bit on the Side from 2011 to 2015. Transitioning to talent shows, Willis co-hosted The Voice UK starting with its third series in 2014 on , partnering with until 2016. The show moved to ITV in 2017, where she continued presenting through subsequent seasons, including a unique 2023 episode where she briefly served as a guest coach. She also hosted the children's spin-off The Voice Kids UK from 2017 to 2023. As of 2025, she remains the lead host for the ongoing series. She co-hosted the 2017 BRIT Awards with Dermot O'Leary. In a shift to factual programming, Willis has presented Emma Willis: Delivering Babies on Channel 5 since 2018, training as a maternity care assistant across multiple series, with the fourth season airing in 2024 focusing on General Hospital. More recently, in 2024, Willis co-hosted the adaptation of Netflix's Love Is Blind alongside her husband , guiding contestants through the show's pod-based dating experiment; the series continued into 2025.

Guest appearances and specials

Emma Willis has made notable guest appearances on entertainment panel shows and participated in various charity holiday specials, often leveraging her presenting skills to support causes or engage in light-hearted segments. In the late 2000s, she co-presented the companion series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW!, appearing alongside her husband for discussions, interviews, and behind-the-scenes panels during the and seasons of the main show. She served as a guest on the spin-off : It Takes Two during its 2012 and 2013 series, joining episodes to chat about the competition and share insights as a fellow broadcaster. Willis has contributed to multiple BBC Children in Need appeals over the years, including narrating a 2020 short film highlighting the pandemic's impact on children and young . In 2025, she designed the official appeal T-shirt in collaboration with George at , drawing inspiration from the resilience of supported children, and shared a personal story about a named Abi in promotional content. She has also appeared in the annual appeal nights, participating in entertainment segments to raise funds. For ITV's Text Santa charity campaigns, Willis featured as a contestant in the 2015 special Big Star's Bigger Star, competing in challenges to support various causes while visibly pregnant with her third child. More recently, in 2024, she co-presented the Channel 4 two-part documentary series Swiped: The School That Banned Smartphones with Matt Willis, following a group of Year 8 pupils in a 21-day experiment to assess smartphone impacts on behavior. In 2025, the couple co-hosted the BBC One series Change Your Mind, Change Your Life, including preview segments that explored therapy sessions and personal transformations, with Willis providing narration and facilitation alongside leading therapists. Additionally, Willis provided minor voice work, including narration for episodes of the reality series Girlfriends across its 2012–2013 run, offering commentary on the participants' dating experiences.

References

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