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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Phoebe Jobling

Matt Willis says he 'won't relapse' on Busted tour as he shares daughter's 'incredible' reaction to addiction documentary

Matt Willis appeared on The One Show on Monday night (May 15) just days ahead of the release of his upcoming BBC One documentary. The 40-year-old singer, who rose to fame in 90s pop band Busted, will appear in his own documentary titled Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction set to air on May 17.

The raw documentary will see the musician open up about his struggles with addiction and the pressure it puts on his family, especially his wife and TV presenter Emma Willis, as well as looking into what helps him and others stay clean.

The dad-of-three has spoken openly about his battle with drugs and alcohol over the years, and the documentary will see him look back at some of his "darkest days" as he explores what could be behind his addiction with the help of experts and meeting those going through similar.

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Days before its release, the Busted singer spoke to The One Show hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas about what viewers can expect.

"There's some incredible science behind addition but I learnt a lot through hearing other people's stories which resonated with me," Matt said.

A clip taken from the documentary then showed Matt in tears as he said 'I don't know why I behave like I behave'.

Speaking about the impact of his addiction on his wife Emma, Matt told the hosts: "In the early days in our relationship things were really kind of up and down. With this documentary we really went there and talked about some stuff we have never spoken about.

"With addiction everything can become so focused on the addict and you forget the ripple effect that addiction has on the people that love them and the impact it has on them.

"Emma was amazing, I had to talk her into being on it but once she was in it she opened up."

Matt spoke to The One Show hosts (BBC)

Matt then spoke about his 13-year-old daughter's reaction to his documentary.

"We watched it the other day together. She's almost 14 and I thought she's old enough to know about alcohol and addiction," he said.

"I've always been quite open and honest with them but we watched it together and she had the most incredible questions. I was blown away by her reaction to it."

With the exciting news of Busted reuniting and going back on tour in September, host Alex Jones then asked: "The last time you went on tour you relapsed, do you have that anxiety going into this one?".

But Matt said that he wouldn't relapse whilst touring with his bandmates.

"Not right now. I learnt a lot from that last relapse, it took me and everyone by surprise," he admitted.

"But I now have a real sturdy set of rules and regulations in place for me to keep me safe. At the end of the day I love those boys and they love me and we've got a job to do, so it's important that I keep on the straight and narrow.

"I want to put on the best show possible and I don't really have those thoughts of drink and drugs most days or really at all anymore, I'm in a much better place."

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