‘It’s not really a big deal to them’: Matt Willis admits he’s been ‘very open’ with his children about why he doesn’t drink after 12 years of sobriety
Matt Willis has candidly discussed his sobriety, revealing that he has never hidden the fact that he doesn’t drink from his three children, saying: ‘I just really don’t want to f**k them up.’
Matt – who shares Isabelle, 12, Ace, nine, and Trixie, five, with his wife Emma Willis – made the decision to give up drink ‘a few months into Isabelle’s life’ and described his daughter’s birth as being a ‘lightbulb’ moment.
The Busted star, 38, explained: ‘I remember looking at her and going: ”Oh no… I’ve been getting everything wrong.” Suddenly everything became about this little thing who needed us so badly.’
Candid: Matt Willis, 38, has candidly discussed his sobriety, revealing that he has never hidden the fact that he doesn’t drink from his three children
Speaking to The Sun’s Fabulous Magazine, the doting father also shared that although his children have ‘never known him to drink’, they have ‘noticed he doesn’t do it’, and ‘he’s been very open’ about why he doesn’t, and so they it’s ‘not really a big deal.’
Matt, who gave up drinking for good a few months into Isabelle’s life, added that he and his children have talked about his past and his children have an understanding of why their father made the decision to go sober.
‘They know what I’m about,’ Matt said.
Matt – who told the publication that he has always wanted to be a father, since he was a ‘little boy’ – has struggled with addiction since a young age, and checked into rehab in 2008, just weeks before his wedding to presenter Emma, 45.
Sober: Matt – who shares Isabelle, 12, Ace, nine, and Trixie, five, with his wife Emma Willis – made the decision to give up drink ‘a few months into Isabelle’s life’
Understanding: Matt, who gave up drinking for good a few months into Isabelle’s life, added that he and his children have talked about his past
Matt also candidly revealed he still struggles with temptation, acknowledging it only takes ‘one slip to f*** it all up’.
He also shared that Emma’s dad Steve is his go-to when it comes to parenting advice, explaining that his father-in-law is an ‘incredible man’.
Noting Emma’s family is a ‘beacon of perfection’, his wife’s close-knit- upbringing was a far cry from his own.
Step-father: Matt also shared that Emma’s dad Steve is his go-to when it comes to parenting advice, explaining that his father-in-law is an ‘incredible man’
Temptation: Matt also candidly revealed he still struggles with temptation, acknowledging it only takes ‘one slip to f*** it all up’ (pictured with Emma in 2007)
Matt’s parents divorced when he was three and the star had a difficult relationship with his step-father.
Since Matt’s band Busted split in 2005, he has starred in the likes of EastEnders and won I’m A Celebrity in 2006.
He also has many West End titles under his belt, having landed leading roles in the likes of Footloose, Wicked and Flashdance.
Matt is returning to the stage this autumn. The father-of-three will embark on a nationwide tour of musical comedy Waitress.
Family: Noting Emma’s family is a ‘beacon of perfection’, his wife’s close-knit- upbringing was a far cry from his own