Matt Willis Apologizes for Concealing ‘Terrible’ Secret from His Children

Matt Willis has apologized after admitting he kept a “terrible” secret from his children. The Busted star, 42, revealed the admission during a recent podcast discussion. Filmogaz.com reports on his attempt to quit and the relapse that followed.

Family and context

Willis and his wife Emma share three children: Isabelle, Ace and Trixie. He has previously discussed struggles with alcohol and drug dependence. The revelation centred on a habit he had been hiding from his youngsters.

Admission of vaping and nicotine dependence

He said he discouraged his children from vaping while privately using e-cigarettes. Willis described himself as heavily reliant on nicotine, a habit that began in his early teens. He acknowledged the contradiction and expressed regret for concealing the behaviour.

Quit attempt, relapse and reasons

With help planned on his podcast, he tried to stop using vapes and snus. He disposed of the products and expected withdrawal symptoms. The effort collapsed when he encountered vapes backstage after a stressful day and resumed the habit.

Impact on work

During rehearsals for a Cabaret role, he realised vaping affected his voice. That prompted a change in strategy. He has since said he will not return to vaping and moved to snus instead.

Help from a neuroscientist

Neuroscientist TJ Power joined his podcast to advise on quitting. Willis admitted he once carried several vapes as backup. He apologised to Power for not following through with the initial plan.

Practical advice

TJ recommended discarding fresh products to reclaim control. He argued that throwing away unused supplies makes quitting feel more empowered. Willis said he understood that advice and planned to act on it.

Public life and appearances

Willis’s confession came amid ongoing public work. He and Emma, known for Love is Blind UK, are due to appear on Celebrity Sabotage. The show airs tonight, March 28, at 8pm on ITV One.

• Age: 42
• Children: Isabelle, Ace, Trixie
• Past issues: alcohol and drug addiction
• Support: neuroscientist TJ Power on the podcast On the Mend
• Quit method: discarded vapes and snus, then switched to snus