Emma Willis – ‘My telly husband Tom and real husband Matt get jealous’
Emma and Matt Willis are celebrating 15 years of marriage in July, and what better way to do it than by filming a television show together? Busted musician Matt, 40, has signed up for his wife’s ITV1 hit Cooking With The Stars, alongside fellow celebrity contestants, actor Jason Watkins, boxing legend Chris Eubank, Coronation Street’s Samia Longchambon, Gavin & Stacey’s Joanna Page, singer Peter Andre, Steps’ Claire Richards and Love Island’s Indiyah Polack.
It means the pair, who often describe themselves as “ships that pass in the night”, will get to spend time together before Busted’s tour starts in September. On top of that, Emma will reap the benefits if Matt’s celebrity coach Shelina Permalloo manages to teach him to throw together a delicious family meal that even their three children, Isabelle, 14, Ace, 11, and Trixie, seven, will eat.
Until now, Emma has been Matt’s cookery teacher, gradually weaning him off the freeze-dried Pot Noodles he was living on when they met. But Matt’s main reason for joining the show is to spend a bit more time with his wife.
“That is exactly why Matt signed up,” agrees Emma. “He said, ‘I just think it would be really nice for us to hang out together.’ He’s busy and I’m busy, and we’re often ships that pass in the night.
“It’s really nice,” adds Emma, smiling. “We did I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Now! together about 15 years ago. It was the last time we worked together.”
Emma, 47, who is joined on the show by her co-host, comedian Tom Allen, reckons Matt has got what it takes to trounce his competitors in the show’s famous “cooking battles”.
“He loves cooking and he’s really good at it,” she says loyally. “He was like, ‘Why would I not do it? I get to learn how to cook and we get to hang out together.’“
Emma: It feels sensational – I love it. I’ve got my telly husband and my real husband at work with me. It’s difficult because I have to distribute my time evenly between them, otherwise the other one gets jealous!
Matt: I thought it would be fun! I’m not very good at cooking. I cook quite a lot but I cook the same things over and over again – I want to learn some new skills. And to be honest, I wanted to hang out with Emma, as we never really get to work together. This is so out of my wheelhouse – in fact, television itself is a bit out of my wheelhouse, unless it’s promo with the band. I thought it would be fun to do something different – and with Emma presenting it, why not?
Matt: When Emma met me, all I ate was Pot Noodles. I lived on Pot Noodles and takeaway pizza, that was my diet – she was disgusted with what I ate. She would cook things and I’d be like, “Wow!” She was amazing! I never really explored anything before then. I love biscuits. I’m terrible at moderation – if I have a biscuit, I’ll eat the whole pack. The Chocolate Rounds from M&S, they get me every time.
Emma: I love eating all foods, I can’t pick between them. Indian or Italian are my go-tos. I do love Thai food as well. Something that sets your mouth alight like those three cuisines – they all give you a flavour explosion and have a lot of variety.
Matt: I love Japanese food. I spent quite a lot of time in Japan with the band and I fell in love with Japanese culture. I love everything about Japan.
Emma: I think we’re a lovely little duo. Not only do our outfits always complement each other – if we’re being superficial, we look fantastic together – but on a deeper level, I love Tom as a human being, and I love working with him. I also love hanging out with him outside of work. We were actually just planning a Pilates class together. Tom is going to come over and we’re going to have a little Pilates session, cold plunge, and then we’re going to have cocktails and sunbathe.
Matt: I cook more than Emma. It’s just ended up that way. I don’t mind doing it, she takes a long time to cook – she’s very particular. That’s the worst thing about cooking for Emma – she’ll come over and say, “Are you going to do it like that? I wouldn’t do it like that.” I don’t really like cleaning up so it’s kind of a rule that if you cook, you don’t clean up – but that rule isn’t always obeyed and I end up cleaning up as well!
Matt: I’d give myself two and a half. I’m not very good, but I get by. I’m OK, I’m not terrible or a disaster, but it’s never very special.
Matt: I’m not very good at pretty, or making stuff look good – everything always looks a mess. I tried not to be messy on set, but I’m just a really messy person – you’ll see it on the show.
Emma: I would have Matt, I would have Elvis Presley, and I would have Tom Jones [her Voice UK co-star]. I’ve heard Tom’s stories about Elvis, so just imagine sitting down and listening to the two of them together, talking about that whole period of the beginning of rock and roll. And I couldn’t have them for dinner and not invite Matt! If I can find another plate, Tom [Allen] can come too.
Matt: I’m a big fan of Russell Brand – I find him so fascinating and intelligent. I would love to have Judi Dench round for dinner – I find her incredible – and Robert De Niro. Those three would be amazing.
Cooking with the stars starts on Tuesday 4 July at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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