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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Tasha Hall

Matt and Emma Willis break down in taxi after visiting Scots addiction support group

Emma Willis and her husband Matt opened up about his struggle with addiction in a new BBC documentary on Wednesday night and broke down in tears as they visited a Scots addition support group.

Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction detailed the pressures it's putting on his family with the couple married for 15 years, having first met back in 2004. Back then Matt had already developed an issue with cocaine, having started taking it at the height of Busted's fame around 2002.

After the band's split in 2005, Matt's addiction worsened and he checked into rehab. It was still early days in his relationship with TV presenting star Emma, but she was determined to stand by him.

Matt said: "The effect addiction has on families is huge, recently me and Emma have become much more open and its becoming more and more apparent that its not just me going through it."

The couple headed to a leading charity in Kirkintilloch called Scottish Families which is set up to support families of Scots with alcohol and drug problems that have turned into addiction.

The couple became emotional as they listened to other stories of Scots who face addiction in their families and shared their own. (BBC)

"This is for me," Emma quipped as they sat in the back of the taxi looking apprehensive as they travelled into the city, as Matt echoed: "This is for you, and probably still is for you."

Emma admitted: "I am really nervous about it if I am honest. It's the unknown isn't it? I've never been in a group therapy situation ever."

"For a long long time I didn't want to live and breathe it constantly I just wanted to leave it there," she continued as she spoke tearfully into the camera.

"Maybe I should have back then delved into it a bit more and talked to people who were in a similar position and I didn't, I didn't really talk to anyone."

Emma and Matt got out the taxi at the hub in Kirkintilloch as they embraced everyone warmly putting their emotions aside as Matt helped himself to some teacakes and biscuits.

She joked: "He will have the whole box if you give him one," before the group sat down for a chat.

Mary in the group opened up on her son having been in addiction for "most of his adult life" as she heartbreakingly spoke of it being "like a rollercoaster you never get off".

Emma Willis and Matt tied the knot in 2008. (Sunday Mirror)

She added: "Sometimes I get angry and think 'thats it' and then I think how he is feeling and it really really upsets me, it's very hard and very tiring."

There was an emotional story from teenager Chloe who also opened up on both her parents being addicts when she was taken off them to live with her grandad, as she broke down in tears revealing her grandad has now passed away.

"I feel empty, I don't know what home feels like, what even is a home?," she expressed tearfully as Emma became emotionally upset and Matt watched on.

Emma started speaking, as she pointed out she had never done this before: "I am married to Matt who has problems with addiction.

"He has been clean five years now and I have never attended a group like this or really spoken I suppose. I didn't know groups like this existed."

"It's fascinating to hear everyones relationships with somebody who struggles with addiction," added Emma as she wiped away her tears with a tissue.

Emma said: "When I hear you guys speak I can absolutely relate," as she turned to Matt and smiled.

Emma broke down as she spoke of her fears for their kids - Isabelle, Ace and Trixie. (BBC)

The group encouraged Emma as they said she is "always welcome" to join them, with Chloe adding: "We all have different stories but if you speak you are not alone, we can all understand each other."

"You're walking into something that is potentially really triggering and emotional," Emma explained as she spoke to the cameras.

"And it was both of those things but in a productive way and a useful way. To listen to those two young girls Chloe and Maddie talk about their experience, I can't help imagine but what if it were my kids and that keeps me adamant that we keep Matt as peaceful as we can and as supported as we can."

On their taxi trip back Emma asked Matt if he felt their experience at the hub near Glasgow helped him understand what it is like for the people around someone suffering from addiction.

"Yeah definitely, and the kids that really really got to me," admitted Matt to his wife. "Stay on the right path, its a destroyer to families and life."

Emma and her husband Matt Willis have three children together after welcoming their daughter, Isabelle, in June 2009, their son, Ace, in November 2011 and Trixie in May 2016.

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