Busted’s Matt Willis open up about his struggles with addiction and the pressure it puts on his family

Matt Willis is an English musician, singer, and actor. He was born on May 8, 1983, in Tooting, London, England. Willis is best known as the bassist and one of the lead vocalists of the British pop-rock band Busted. The band achieved significant success in the early 2000s with hits such as ‘Year 3000’, ‘What I Go to School For’ and ‘Crashed the Wedding’.

After Busted disbanded in 2005, Matt pursued a solo career, releasing his debut solo album ‘Don’t Let It Go to Waste’ in 2006, which included the successful single ‘Up All Night.’

In recent years, he has continued to work on his music and acting career. He participated in the reality TV show ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ in 2006 and won the series. He has also made appearances on television shows like ‘EastEnders’ and ‘Birds of a Feather’.

Outside of his professional life, Matt is married to English television presenter and actress Emma Willis. They got married in 2008 and have three children together.

Matt has been open about his past struggles with drink and drug addiction. In various interviews, he has spoken about his battle with substance abuse and the impact it had on his life.

During the early years of his career with Busted, Willis developed a problem with alcohol and recreational drugs. He has admitted that his addiction escalated to a point where it was affecting his work and personal life. The band eventually split in 2005, partly due to the challenges posed by his addiction.

In the aftermath of Busted’s breakup, Matt sought help and entered rehab to address his substance abuse issues. He has credited his wife, Emma, as a significant source of support during his recovery process. Through therapy and a commitment to sobriety, he was able to overcome his addiction and make positive changes in his life.

Since his recovery, Matt has been an advocate for raising awareness about addiction and mental health issues. On 17 May 2023, He shared his story ‘Matt Willis – Fighting Addiction’ on BBC One, openly to inspire others facing similar challenges and to promote understanding and support for those struggling with addiction.

The documentary looks back at some of Matt’s darkest days as he begins to explore what could be behind his addiction. 

It also looks how drink and drug addiction can have a significant impact on family members. The effects can be emotional, psychological, financial and social, creating a challenging and often distressing environment within the family unit. Here are some common effects that it looks into:

• Emotional turmoil: Family members often experience a range of emotions, including fear, anger, sadness, and frustration. They may feel helpless, betrayed, or constantly on edge, unsure of what to expect from their loved one struggling with addiction.
• Breakdown of trust: Addiction can lead to broken promises, lies and deceit, eroding trust within the family. Family members may find it difficult to believe or rely on the addicted individual, causing strained relationships.
• Neglect and isolation: The focus on obtaining and using substances can cause the person with addiction to neglect their family responsibilities and relationships. Family members may feel neglected, isolated and emotionally distant from their loved one.
• Mental and physical health impact: Witnessing a loved one’s addiction can take a toll on family members’ mental and physical health. They may experience anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances and other stress-related symptoms.

The documentary looks at how the effects of addiction on family members can vary widely depending on individual circumstances and dynamics. Seeking support through counselling, support groups and education can help family members navigate these challenges, establish healthy boundaries and find ways to take care of themselves.

‘Matt Willis – Fighting Addiction’ can be found at https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001m0jq/matt-willis-fighting-addiction