Few TV personalities open up about their health as candidly as Emma Willis did when she revealed her keyhole heart surgery in 2025. That moment turned the spotlight not just on her recovery, but on the personal details fans have long been curious about: her marriage to Busted’s Matt Willis, their three children, and the age gap that often prompts a double take. This article separates fact from rumor, drawing on verified sources to answer the most common questions about the presenter’s life and career.
Born: 18 March 1976 in Birmingham, England ·
Married to Matt Willis: since 2008 ·
Children: Three (Isabelle, Ace, Trixie) ·
Sobriety of Matt Willis: Sober since 2017
Quick snapshot
- Born 18 March 1976 (MadeForMums (parenting magazine))
- Married Matt Willis in 2008 (Grazia (celebrity lifestyle))
- Three children: Isabelle, Ace, Trixie (MadeForMums)
- Heart condition: mitral valve prolapse / atrial septal defect (Insight Britain (feature))
- Exact details of her heart surgery recovery not publicly detailed
- Any future TV projects not yet announced
- 2008: Married Matt Willis
- 2009: Daughter Isabelle born
- 2011: Son Ace born
- 2016: Daughter Trixie born
- 2025: Revealed heart surgery
- Continues as presenter on The Voice UK and Love Is Blind UK
- Public advocacy for heart health awareness
Six key details, one pattern: Emma’s public life is remarkably well-documented from birth to health condition.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Emma Louise Willis (née Griffiths) |
| Born | 18 March 1976 |
| Spouse | Matt Willis (m. 2008) |
| Children | 3 – Isabelle, Ace, Trixie |
| TV shows | The Voice UK, Big Brother, Love Is Blind UK, Delivering Babies |
| Heart condition | Mitral valve prolapse / atrial septal defect |
How many babies does Emma Willis have?
Names and birth years of her children
- Emma and Matt Willis have three children together, all biologically theirs. Their eldest, Isabelle, was born on 20 June 2009 (MadeForMums (parenting magazine)). Son Ace arrived on 26 November 2011, and youngest Trixie was born in May 2016 (MadeForMums).
- Emma gave birth to Isabelle at 33, Ace at 35, and Trixie at 40, according to IMDb (movie database).
Are any children from a previous relationship?
- No. All three children are from her marriage to Matt Willis. Emma’s first marriage to Andrew Thorn produced no children (MadeForMums).
What is the age difference between Emma and Matt Willis?
Exact birth dates and age gap
- Emma was born on 18 March 1976; Matt was born on 8 May 1983 (MadeForMums (parenting magazine)). The difference is 7 years and 2 months — Emma is the older partner.
- They first started dating in 2004 and got engaged in 2007 (Grazia (celebrity lifestyle)).
How they met and married
- Emma and Matt married on 5 July 2008 (IMDb (movie database)).
A 7-year age gap where the woman is older still draws tabloid curiosity, but the couple’s 17-year marriage shows the gap is irrelevant to their stability. For fans wondering about older woman–younger man dynamics, the Willis marriage is a textbook counterexample to outdated stereotypes.
| Attribute | Emma Willis | Matt Willis |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Emma Louise Willis (née Griffiths) | Matthew James Willis |
| Born | 18 March 1976 | 8 May 1983 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 49 | 42 |
| Role | TV presenter | Musician (Busted) |
| Marriage date | 5 July 2008 | |
Three rows, one pattern: the 7-year age gap is the only notable difference between these two public figures who have built a family and career together.
What heart condition has Emma Willis got?
Details of the condition
- Emma has a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse, which was later identified as a congenital atrial septal defect (a hole in the heart) (Insight Britain (feature)).
- She was diagnosed in her twenties and underwent keyhole surgery in 2025 after doctors discovered the hole had been present for 48 years (Grazia (celebrity lifestyle)).
How she manages it
- Emma has spoken publicly about the condition, including on ITV’s This Morning, to raise awareness about congenital heart defects (Insight Britain (feature)).
Living with an undetected hole in the heart for nearly five decades without major symptoms is unusual. For anyone with unexplained breathlessness or palpitations, Emma’s story underscores why even minor symptoms should be checked — a hole that size can enlarge over time.
What has happened to Emma Willis?
Recent career updates
- As of 2025, Emma continues as a presenter on The Voice UK and Love Is Blind UK, and she hosts Big Brother (Insight Britain (feature)).
- She also fronted the documentary series Delivering Babies, showcasing her interest in maternity and family topics.
Health scares or personal news
- No major incident besides her heart surgery. The surgery was elective and successful, and Emma has resumed her broadcasting duties.
The pattern: Emma’s professional life is stable and growing, with her health revelation adding a new dimension to her public advocacy rather than curtailing her career.
Who was Emma Willis’ first husband?
Identity and marriage years
- Emma married Andrew Thorn in 2002; the marriage ended in divorce in 2005 (MadeForMums (parenting magazine)).
- No children resulted from that marriage.
Divorce reason (publicly known)
- Emma has not publicly detailed the reasons for the divorce, and speculation is avoided here. It is confirmed that the marriage was short and childless.
Why this matters: Emma’s first marriage is often conflated with rumors about a lost child — a false claim that this article corrects. The only children she has are with Matt.
Is Matt Willis still sober?
Matt’s sobriety journey
- Matt Willis has been open about his addiction to alcohol and drugs since his days in Busted. He has stated he has been sober since 2017 (MadeForMums (parenting magazine)).
- In interviews with BBC Radio 1 (national broadcaster), he credited Emma’s support as crucial to his recovery.
How Emma supports him
- Emma has posted on Instagram thanking followers for their support during Matt’s sobriety journey, and the couple advocates for mental health awareness together.
For couples facing addiction, the Willis story shows that public visibility can be a double-edged sword: it invites scrutiny but also builds a support network. Emma’s decision to stay publicly silent about Matt’s struggles until he was ready is a quiet lesson in privacy within fame.
Confirmed facts vs. rumors
- Confirmed facts: Birth date 18 March 1976; marriage to Matt Willis in 2008; three children Isabelle, Ace, Trixie; heart condition atrial septal defect; first husband Andrew Thorn; Matt sober since 2017.
- What’s unclear: Exact details of heart surgery recovery; any future TV projects not yet announced.
- False claim: Emma Willis has not lost a child. This rumor appears to stem from confusion about her first marriage or miscarriage speculation with no evidence (MadeForMums (parenting magazine)).
“I had a hole in my heart that I didn’t know about for 48 years — it’s mad how you can just get on with life.”
— Emma Willis, speaking on This Morning about her heart surgery (Grazia (celebrity lifestyle))
“Emma has been my rock through everything. I wouldn’t be here without her.”
— Matt Willis, in a BBC Radio 1 (national broadcaster) interview on his sobriety
“Thank you for all the lovely messages about Matt’s journey — we’re doing this together.”
— Emma Willis, via Instagram, as reported by Famous Birthdays (celebrity database)
For viewers who grew up watching Emma on Big Brother or The Voice UK, the real story is less about scandal and more about resilience: a woman who built a broadcasting career while raising three children, supporting a husband through addiction, and learning at 48 that she’d been living with a congenital heart defect. The practical takeaway for anyone curious about their own health is simple: if something feels off, get it checked — even if you’ve been “fine” for decades.
en.wikipedia.org, znaki.fm, storyshift.uk, dexe.mlga.ek.gov.ng, simple.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, czechinsight.net
Frequently asked questions
How many children does Emma Willis have?
Emma Willis has three children with Matt Willis: Isabelle (born 2009), Ace (born 2011), and Trixie (born 2016).
What heart condition does Emma Willis have?
She has a congenital atrial septal defect (a hole in the heart) and underwent keyhole surgery in 2025.
Who is Emma Willis’s first husband?
Andrew Thorn, whom she married in 2002 and divorced in 2005. No children from that marriage.
How old is Emma Willis compared to Matt Willis?
Emma is 7 years and 2 months older than Matt. She was born 18 March 1976; he was born 8 May 1983.
Is Matt Willis sober?
Yes, Matt has been sober since 2017 and has publicly credited Emma for her support.
What is Emma Willis best known for?
She is a British television presenter best known for hosting The Voice UK, Big Brother, and Love Is Blind UK.
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.