
Matt Willis – Biography, Busted Career and Family Life
Matt Willis is an English musician, singer, songwriter, television personality, and actor. He is best known as a founding member of the pop-punk band Busted and, more recently, as the co-host of the Netflix dating series Love Is Blind UK alongside his wife, presenter Emma Willis.
Born Matthew James Willis in Tooting, London, on 8 May 1983, he rose to fame in the early 2000s. Over the past two decades, his career has spanned chart-topping records, reality TV victories, solo music, and candid public discussions about addiction and recovery. The couple are frequently described as one of the UK’s most recognisable celebrity partnerships, with a combined wealth estimated in the multi-million-pound range.
Who Is Matt Willis?
Matthew James Willis
8 May 1983, Tooting, London, England
Busted (bassist/vocalist), TV personality, podcast host
Emma Willis (m. 2008)
Key Insights
- Matt Willis’s identity is most strongly tied to the pop-punk band Busted, which he co-founded.
- His marriage to TV presenter Emma Willis is a high-profile celebrity relationship frequently covered in media.
- Despite being a public figure, his net worth is not officially disclosed; estimates vary widely.
- A common search query, “Matt Willis Love is Blind,” appears to be a confusion with a different participant from the Netflix show, requiring clarification.
- His appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2023 revived interest in his personal life and past struggles with addiction.
- He co-hosts the podcast On The Mend, focusing on mental health and recovery.
Snapshot Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthew James Willis |
| Date of Birth | 8 May 1983 |
| Birthplace | Tooting, London, England |
| Occupation | Musician, singer, songwriter, television personality, actor |
| Band | Busted (co-founder, bassist, co-vocalist) |
| Spouse | Emma Willis (née Griffiths) |
| Children | Three (Isabelle, Ace, Trixie) |
| Years Active | 2001–present |
| Notable Solo Work | Album Don’t Let It Go to Waste (2006) |
| Podcast | On The Mend (co-host with wife Emma) |
What Band Is Matt Willis In?
Matt Willis is a founding member of Busted, the pop-punk trio he formed in 2001 alongside James Bourne and Charlie Simpson. The band became a major UK act, releasing four albums and selling more than five million records worldwide, according to one source. Their debut album reached UK No. 2 in 2003.
Solo Career and Other Projects
After Busted’s initial split in 2005, Willis launched a solo career. He released the solo album Don’t Let It Go to Waste in 2006. He also won the sixth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! that same year. His film credits include a role in Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007).
Is Matt Willis Still in Busted?
Yes. Busted has reunited multiple times, including a tour in 2010 and a new album, Night Driver, in 2015. In 2024, the band announced new tour dates and music.
What Is Matt Willis Cabaret?
The phrase “Matt Willis Cabaret” may refer to a one-night show or performance, but at present, the details of a specific Cabaret show at a confirmed venue are not widely documented. This appears to be a search term that lacks a verified, high-profile event in his public career biography.
Matt Willis has been active as a musician since 2001. His primary output remains with Busted, though he released a solo album in 2006. Recent projects include the 2024 Busted tour and new music announcements.
A 2025 acting credit listed in one source is Missing You, credited as Matt Jay-Willis. Another 2025 project is Change Your Mind, Change Your Life, where he is credited as co-presenter with Emma Willis.
Who Is Matt Willis Married To?
Matt Willis is married to Emma Willis, a major UK television presenter. The couple married in 2008. Emma is known for presenting shows such as The Voice UK and Big Brother.
How Did Matt Willis and Emma Willis Meet?
The couple met before Matt’s rise to fame with Busted. They have been together since they were teenagers, having met while working at a clothes shop. Their relationship has been a consistent feature of UK celebrity media.
Does Matt Willis Have Children?
Yes. Matt and Emma Willis have three children: Isabelle, Ace, and Trixie.
Matt Willis has been open about how family support and recovery treatment helped him return to sobriety after entering rehab in 2008. Newer profiles frame his public identity around recovery, stability, and family life.
What Is Matt Willis’s Net Worth?
Matt Willis’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. Estimates from 2024 vary. One report estimated Emma Willis’s net worth at £6.5 million and Matt Willis’s at around £4 million, for a combined total of about £10.5 million. Another 2024 source gave Matt’s net worth as £5–7 million, depending on the estimate used.
For 2025 specifically, no single authoritative updated figure is available. The safest reading based on the latest cited estimates is that the couple remain in the roughly £10 million-plus range.
Net worth figures are estimates drawn from entertainment finance sources. Neither Matt nor Emma Willis has publicly disclosed their exact financial details, and all figures should be treated as approximations.
Did Matt Willis Appear on Love Is Blind?
No. A common search query confuses Matt Willis with a different participant from the US version of the Netflix show. There is no record of Matt Willis being a contestant on any season of Love Is Blind.
However, Matt Willis and his wife Emma Willis were announced as hosts of Love Is Blind UK in 2023, with the show airing in 2024. They have since reprised their roles for a second season. The confusion likely stems from his association with the title as a host rather than a participant.
Timeline of Key Events
- 1983: Born in Tooting, London, England.
- 2001: Co-founded Busted with James Bourne and Charlie Simpson.
- 2003: Busted’s debut album reaches UK No. 2.
- 2005: Busted splits; Willis begins solo career.
- 2006: Released solo album Don’t Let It Go to Waste.
- 2007: Marries Emma Willis; appears in Mr. Bean’s Holiday.
- 2010: Busted briefly reunites for a tour.
- 2015: Busted reunites for new album Night Driver.
- 2021: Launches podcast On The Mend with Emma.
- 2023: Participates in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
- 2024: Busted announces new tour; hosts Love Is Blind UK.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Matt Willis is a founding member of Busted. | Net worth figures are not publicly confirmed; estimates range from £4 million to £7 million. |
| He is married to Emma Willis and they have three children. | Whether he performed Cabaret at a specific venue is unconfirmed; this may be a search misinterpretation. |
| He was a contestant on I’m a Celebrity in 2023. | The query “Matt Willis Love is Blind” likely confuses him with a different participant from the Netflix show. |
| His full name is Matthew James Willis. | Exact details of his parents’ names and professions are not widely published. |
| He hosts the podcast On The Mend. |
Context: Name Confusion and Public Profile
Matt Willis rose to fame in the early 2000s as part of the pop-punk trio Busted. After the band’s initial split in 2005, he pursued solo music and acting. His marriage to TV presenter Emma Willis kept him in the public eye. In recent years, he has been open about his struggles with addiction and mental health, leading to the creation of his podcast On The Mend.
The 2023 I’m a Celebrity participation introduced him to a new generation. The “Love is Blind” search confusion highlights the challenge of name disambiguation in search engines, where users may confuse him with a different person with the same first name.
Sources and Quotes
“Matt Willis is an English musician, singer, songwriter, television personality and actor.”
— Wikipedia
“Willis said he regretted ‘gaslighting’ his wife Emma during his addiction struggles.”
— The Independent
“Husband, father, bass player, podcast host @busted @on.the.mend.podcast.”
— Instagram bio (@mattjwillis)
Summary: Who Is Matt Willis in 2025?
Matt Willis is a musician and television personality whose career began with Busted and has evolved to include presenting, podcasting, and public advocacy around addiction recovery. He remains an active public figure alongside his wife, Emma Willis. For more on figures in the public eye, see the biography of Charlene White – Age, Partner, Father, and Career Biography. For related music industry connections, read about Reverend and the Makers: Members, Relationships & Latest News.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Matt Willis and Emma Willis meet?
They met while working at a clothes shop as teenagers, long before Matt’s fame with Busted.
Does Matt Willis have children?
Yes, he and Emma Willis have three children: Isabelle, Ace, and Trixie.
Is Matt Willis still making music?
Yes. Busted announced new tour dates and music in 2024.
What is Matt Willis’s real name?
His full legal name is Matthew James Willis.
Why is Matt Willis in the news?
He is regularly in the news for Busted’s activities, his TV appearances, and his podcast On The Mend.
What is Matt Willis’s podcast called?
His podcast is called On The Mend, which he co-hosts with his wife Emma.
Did Matt Willis win I’m a Celebrity?
He won the sixth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2006.
Who are Matt Willis’s parents?
Their names are not widely published in available sources.
What is Matt Willis’s height?
He is approximately 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) tall.
When did Busted split?
Busted initially split in 2005 but have reunited multiple times since.