Emma Louise Willis (née Griffiths; born 18 March 1976)[1] is an English broadcaster. She is known for her television and radio work with Channel 5, BBC, ITV and Heart FM.[2][3][4]
Emma Willis | |
|---|---|
 Willis in 2014 | |
| Born | Emma Louise Griffiths 18 March 1976 Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England |
| Occupation | Broadcaster |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | www |
Willis presented the Channel 5 reality shows Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother (2013–2018), as well as the spin-off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side (2011–2015). She presented the BBC One talent competition show The Voice UK (2014–present), and the children's spin-off The Voice Kids UK (2017–2023). In 2019 and 2021, Willis presented the second and third series of the reality show The Circle on Channel 4. In 2024, she became a co-host of the Netflix dating show Love Is Blind: UK, alongside her husband Matt Willis.
Early life
editEmma Willis was born in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham,[5] attending Wylde Green Primary School and then John Willmott School in Sutton Coldfield.[6] She began modelling at the age of 15,[7] and during her career worked for a range of magazines, retailers and companies including Marie Claire, Elle, Vogue, GAP and Chanel.[8]
Career
editWillis got her first big break presenting on MTV in 2002 before presenting various other shows, including guest-hosting shows such as CD:UK, This Morning and Loose Women.
ITV
editIn 2007, Willis presented ITV2 spin-off series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! with her husband Matt before departing in 2008. She presented numerous episodes of The Hot Desk on ITV2 between 2008 and 2014. In September 2012, Willis became a permanent presenter on This Morning, presenting segments in The Hub, taking over from Coleen Nolan. The feature was axed in 2014. She was also a stand-in presenter on the main show when Holly Willoughby or Ruth Langsford were absent[9] and returned to guest present the show with Rylan Clark-Neal in 2018. Willis hosted two series of the ITV2 reality show Girlfriends in 2012 and 2013.[10]
On 16 November 2012, Willis was drafted in to guest anchor Loose Women and has since presented on several occasions as a stand-in presenter. In 2013, Willis guest presented an episode of The Paul O'Grady Show, while O'Grady was away.[11]
In 2013, Willis co-presented the ITV game show Prize Island with Alexander Armstrong.[12] In 2015, Willis was a team captain on the six-part ITV2 comedy panel show Reality Bites, hosted by Stephen Mulhern.[13] On 2 July 2015, it was announced that Willis would present a new three-part series for ITV called What Would Be Your Miracle, about modern miracles. The series began on 28 April 2016.[14][15][16] In January 2017, The Voice UK moved from BBC One to ITV. It was confirmed on 9 June 2016 that Willis would present the series after co-hosting three previous series on the BBC.[17] She also presented two series of The Voice Kids on ITV since 2017. In 2017, she presented The BRITs Are Coming live on ITV. She co-presented the 2017 BRIT Awards in February alongside Dermot O'Leary.[18] She hosted The BRITs Are Coming for a second year in 2018. She presented Your Song in 2017, a one-off special for ITV.
On 3 March 2018, Willis made a surprise appearance on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, as she presented Win the Ads while the main hosts playing the game as part of the show's 100th episode.
Channel 4
editIn 2007, Willis guest hosted the tenth week of Big Brother's Big Mouth. In 2010, Willis began presenting a Celebrity Big Brother online spin-off show entitled Celebrity Big Brother's Big i. While presenting the online spin-off in the same series, Willis also presented another edition of Big Mouth when Davina McCall entered the Big Brother house as part of a task. She was then later announced as the new co-presenter on the final series of Big Brother's Little Brother, hosting opposite George Lamb.
In 2019, Willis replaced Alice Levine and Maya Jama as host of The Circle.
Channel 5
editIn 2010, it was announced that Willis would replace Melinda Messenger on the Channel 5 series Live from Studio Five, but after only two months, Willis announced she would be departing in order to co-present Big Brother's Little Brother and was therefore replaced by Jayne Middlemiss.[19]
In 2011, it was confirmed that she would be returning to the revived series, presenting the spin-off show Big Brother's Bit on the Side.
On 13 March 2013, it was reported that Brian Dowling would be axed from Big Brother[20] and be replaced by Willis with a source saying, 'Brian has been a great host but Emma is seen by channel chiefs as a true successor to Davina. They're talking to her now about taking over the role from the summer.'[2] It was later confirmed, on 2 April 2013 by Channel 5 that Willis would be replacing Dowling as the new host of Big Brother.[4][21] On 13 June 2013, she began presenting the fourteenth series of Big Brother.
Even though Willis presents the main Big Brother and celebrity series, she still continued to host the spin-off show Bit on the Side, sharing the presenting duties with Rylan Clark. On 2 February 2015, it was announced that Willis was to present her final edition of Bit on the Side that night, and Clark would take over as the main presenter of the spin off show.[22]
Willis infamously interrogated Winston McKenzie during his exit interview on Celebrity Big Brother over his controversial opinions. Willis has expressed personal pride on this moment in her career.[23]
On 30 March 2014, Willis presented the Mum of the Year Awards, with the highlights being shown on Channel 5 that same evening.[24]
BBC
editIn 2013, Willis was confirmed as the replacement for Holly Willoughby on the BBC One talent show The Voice UK. On 11 January 2014, she began co-presenting the third series with JLS singer Marvin Humes, who replaced Reggie Yates.[25]
In March 2014, it was announced that The Voice UK had been renewed for two future series.[26] Both Willis and Humes returned to the show for the fourth series in 2015 and fifth series in 2016. The show was axed by the BBC after series 5 and moved to ITV in 2017.
Willis, and Reggie Yates co-hosted the Saturday night game show Prized Apart on BBC One. The series began on 13 June 2015 and was axed after the first series, due to poor ratings.[27]
Willis is also a guest presenter on The One Show from time to time.
Radio
editOn 5 August 2012, Willis began co-presenting Sunday Morning Breakfast with Stephen Mulhern across the Heart network.
Other work
editIn 2015, she became the celebrity ambassador for Gillette Venus and Oral-B.[28]
On 21 March 2023, Willis partnered with Absolute Collagen for their 'Strong in your own skin' campaign.[29]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Category | Nominated for | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | National Reality TV Awards | Best TV Presenter | Nominated | [30] |
| 2013 | National TV Awards | Entertainment Presenter | Longlisted | [31] |
| 2014 | National TV Awards | Longlisted | [32] | |
| Glamour Awards | Best TV Presenter | Won | [33] | |
| Freesat TV Free Awards | Nominated | [34] | ||
| Digital Spy Awards | Nominated | [35] | ||
| 2015 | National TV Awards | Entertainment Presenter | Longlisted | |
| 2016 | Digital Spy Awards | Best TV Presenter | Nominated | [36] |
| 2017 | National TV Awards | TV Presenter | Longlisted | |
| Glamour Awards | TV Personality | Won | [37] | |
| 2018 | National Reality TV Awards | Best TV Presenter | Nominated | [38] |
| Champion of Women Award | Style and Spirit | Won | [39] | |
| I Talk Telly Awards | Best TV Presenter | Nominated | [40] | |
| Digital Spy Awards | Nominated | [41] | ||
| 2019 | National TV Awards | Entertainment Presenter | Longlisted | |
| I Talk Telly Awards | Best TV Presenter | Nominated | [42] | |
| 2020 | National TV Awards | TV Presenter | Longlisted | |
| I Talk Telly Awards | Best TV Presenter | Nominated | [43] | |
| 2022 | National TV Awards | TV Presenter | Longlisted | |
| 2023 | National TV Awards | Longlisted |
Personal life
editOn 5 July 2008, Emma Griffiths married Busted member Matt Willis at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire, after three years of dating. The wedding was featured in OK magazine.[44] She gave birth to their first child in 2009.[45] In 2011, the couple had a second child, and in 2016, Willis gave birth to their third child.[46][47]
In an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, Willis confirmed that she has longstanding roots in Birmingham, with her family tree being traced back to her great-great-great-grandfather, who was named James Gretton and was listed as a Horn and Hair Merchant in the census records.[48] She also found she had Irish ancestors, a fact that came as a surprise to her. The revelations about her ancestry left her extremely uncomfortable with the actions of one, who she discovered was a violent Orangeman, but overall she was happy to have found a connection to her more broad Irish heritage.[49]
Willis is a supporter of Aston Villa.[50]
In 2019, Willis obtained a qualification as a maternity care assistant following her experience on the W series Delivering Babies.[51]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Willis and her husband completed training with St John Ambulance to act as vaccination volunteers.[52]
In 2023, Willis was featured in the documentary, Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction. The documentary, which aired on the BBC on 17 May 2023, followed Willis and her husband as they spoke about the latter's addiction issues.[53][54][55]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2003 | MTV UK | Presenter | |
| 2003–2005 | Total Request Live | ||
| 2005, 2007, 2010 | Big Brother's Big Mouth | Guest presenter | |
| 2007–2008 | I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! | Co-presenter | 2 series |
| 2008–2014 | The Hot Desk | Presenter | Various episodes |
| 2008 | Red Bull Flugtag | Co-presenter | |
| 27 Dresses: Movie Special | Presenter | ||
| 2010 | Live from Studio Five[citation needed] | Co-presenter | |
| The Real Hustle | Herself | ||
| Big Brother's Little Brother | Co-presenter | 1 series | |
| 2011–2015 | Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side | 8 series | |
| 2011–2014 | Big Brother's Bit on the Side | 4 series | |
| 2012–2014, 2018 | This Morning | "Hub" presenter | Regular |
| 2012–2014, 2018, 2023–present | Stand-in presenter | 11 episodes | |
| 2012–2013, 2021 | Loose Women | Anchor | 8 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Girlfriends[56] | Presenter | 2 series |
| 2013 | Speidi: Scandal, Secrets & Surgery! | Narrator | One-off episode |
| Prize Island | Co-presenter | 1 series | |
| The Paul O'Grady Show | Guest presenter | 1 episode | |
| 2013–2018 | Big Brother | Presenter | 6 series |
| 2013–2018 | Celebrity Big Brother | 11 series | |
| 2014–present | The Voice UK | 10 Series | |
| 2015 | Reality Bites[57] | Team captain | 1 series |
| Prized Apart[58] | Co-presenter | 1 series | |
| 2016 | What Would Be Your Miracle?[59] | Presenter | 1 series |
| BRITs Icon: Robbie Williams | Narrator | One-off episode | |
| 2017 | BRIT Awards | Co-presenter | 37th event |
| 2017–2023 | The Voice Kids | Presenter | 7 series |
| 2017 | Your Song[60][61] | One-off episode | |
| 2017–2018 | The Keith & Paddy Picture Show | Janine Melnitz/Rizzo | 2 episodes |
| 2018–present | Emma Willis: Delivering Babies[62] | Presenter | Documentary series |
| 2019 | Comic Relief | Presenter | Telethon |
| Pants on Fire | |||
| 2019–2021 | The Circle | Series 2 - Series 3 | |
| 2021 | The Celebrity Circle | Series 1 | |
| Cooking with the Stars | Co-presenter | Series 1 | |
| Emma and AJ Get to Work | Co-presenter | Alongside AJ Odudu | |
| 2022 | The Great Celebrity Bake Off for SU2C | Herself | Series 5; episode 1 |
| The Great Home Transformation | Co-presenter | With Nick Grimshaw[63] | |
| 2023, 2024 | The World Cook | Co-presenter | With Fred Sirieix[64] |
| 2023 | Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction | Herself | BBC documentary |
| Love Is Blind: UK | Co-presenter | ||
| 2024 | Team GB's Homecoming by The National Lottery | Co-host | With Vernon Kay[65] |
| TBA | Swiped: The School that Banned Smartphones | Co-presenter | With Matt Willis[66] |
| Year | Station | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2018 | Heart Network | Sunday Mornings | Co-presenter |
| 2019–present | BBC Radio 2 | Various | Cover Presenter |
References
edit- ^ Cains, Eleanor (18 March 2014). "Celebrity birthdays: 5 things you didn't know about Emma Willis". Yahoo! Celebrity. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ a b Big Brother: Brian Dowling to be replaced by Emma Willis as host? – Big Brother News – Reality TV. Digital Spy (13 March 2013). Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ Leigh, Rob. (13 March 2013) Big Brother: Emma Willis 'in running to take over from Brian Dowling' – Mirror Online. Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ a b Emma Willis replaces Brian Dowling as presenter of ‘Big Brother’ Archived 18 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Telly Spy (2 April 2013). Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Emma Willis in gear for Style In The City". Birmingham Post. 3 September 2009. Archived from the original on 7 November 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ Morris, Brogan. "10 Things You Didn't Know About Emma Willis". Eighties Kids. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Hebenton, Alana. "INTERVIEWING EMMA WILLIS". Baby Surrey. Archived from the original on 2 November 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ Emma Willis | Presenters & Experts | This Morning. Itv.com (4 September 2013). Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Girlfriends to return for a second series". ITV Press Centre.
- ^ Rachel Tarley (20 November 2013). "'Drunk and/or rude' June Brown criticised after odd stint on The Paul O'Grady Show – Metro News". Metro.
- ^ Emma Willis show 'Prize Island' to be axed by ITV? – TV News. Digital Spy (25 June 2013). Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Reality Bites". ITV Press Centre.
- ^ "Modern miracles to be shown in new ITV series with Emma Willis". ITV Press Centre. ITV. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "A Modern Miracle?". ITV Studios. ITV. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ Agius, Nicola (3 July 2015). "Emma Willis beams with delight after landing emotional new presenting job on ITV's The Miracle". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "Emma Willis to host The Voice UK". Press Centre. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ Mitchell, Bea (31 January 2017). "Dermot O'Leary and Emma Willis to host Brit Awards 2017". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ Emma Willis quits Live From Studio Five | Unreality TV Archived 28 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk (14 May 2010). Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ "Brian Dowling Axed?". Being Big Brother. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
- ^ Emma Willis replaces Brian Dowling as new Channel 5 Big Brother host – Big Brother News – Reality TV. Digital Spy (2 April 2013). Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ Alistair McGeorge (2 February 2015). "Emma Willis QUITS Celebrity Big Brother Bit On The Side: Host's last episode to air tonight". mirror.
- ^ "Emma Willis defends "infuriating" Celeb BB Winston interview".
- ^ Emma Willis revealed as Tesco Mum of the Year Awards host. Tescoliving.com (20 March 2014). Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ Big Brother's Emma Willis announced as new presenter of 'The Voice' UK – The Voice News – Reality TV. Digital Spy (14 September 2013). Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ The Voice UK renewed for two more series – The Voice News – Reality TV. Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ Alex Fletcher (11 December 2014). "Emma Willis, Reggie Yates to host new BBC Saturday night show Prized Apart". Digital Spy.
- ^ Daniel Falconer (9 October 2015). "Emma Willis exclusive interview – Oral-B, dental hygiene and encouraging kids to brush their teeth".
- ^ "Emma Willis launches 'Strong in your own skin' campaign with Absolute Collagen". 21 March 2023.
- ^ "2012: Winners and Nominees". National Reality TV Awards. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "National Television Awards 2013: Longlist nominations in full - vote". Digital Spy. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
- ^ "2014 National Television Awards – Longlist Nominations". Digital Spy. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
- ^ "'First thing I've ever won in my life!'- Brummie beauty Emma Willis 'feeling wonderful' after Glamour Awards". Birmingham Mail. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "Sherlock, Doctor Who, Kylie Minogue up for 2014 Free TV Awards". Digital Spy. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "Game of Thrones, Doctor Who win in 2014 Digital Spy Reader Awards". Digital Spy. 23 December 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "Your Digital Spy Reader Awards TV winners of 2016: Humans, Game of Thrones and Graham Norton are your faves". Digital Spy. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "Glamour Women of The Year Awards full winners list: James Corden, Nicole Kidman and Emma Willis take home top gongs". Daily Mirror. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "Nominations announced for the 8th annual National Reality TV Awards". National Reality TV Awards. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ^ "EMMA WILLIS WINS 'STYLE AND SPIRIT' AWARD". EmmaWillis.com. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "I TALK TELLY AWARDS Nominations 2018". I Talk Tell Awards. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ "The Digital Spy Reader Awards 2018!". Digital Spy. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "I TALK TELLY AWARDS 2019 Nominees". I Talk Tell Awards. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "I TALK TELLY AWARDS 2020 Nominees". I Talk Tell Awards. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "Matt Willis weds Emma Griffiths fresh out of rehab". Daily Mirror. MGN Limited. 6 July 2008. Archived from the original on 25 March 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ "Willis, Griffiths welcome baby daughter". Digital Spy Limited. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ "Thank you so much for all your lovely messages. Trixie arrived in the world on Wednesday. May the 4th be with her indeed!'". Twitter. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ "Emma Willis and husband Matt welcome third baby'". Hello Magazine. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
- ^ "TheGenealogist's featured article on Emma Willis". TheGenealogist. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ "TheGenealogist's featured article on Emma Willis". TheGenealogist. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ "FA Cup: Arsenal and Aston Villa celebrity fans". BBC News. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ West, Amy; Turner, Laura Jane (5 August 2019). "Delivering Babies' Emma Willis discusses future away from reality television". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ^ Davies, Alan (28 March 2021). "Celebrity Herts couple complete volunteer vaccination training with St John Ambulance". Herts Advertiser. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "TV tonight: Matt Willis is brutally honest about his addiction". The Guardian. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Day, Harvey (17 May 2023). "Busted's Matt Willis: I'm nervous about my kids seeing my drug and alcohol past". BBC News. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Jobling, Phoebe (15 May 2023). "Matt Willis says he 'won't relapse' on Busted tour as he shares daughter's 'incredible' reaction to addiction documentary". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Three Archived 24 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine ITV Press Centre, 3 May 2012
- ^ Alfie Green (7 May 2016). "ITV 2 launches new show 'Reality Bites' staring Emma Willis – Reality Box – Latest TV, Music, Entertainment, Soap News". Reality Box.
- ^ "Prized Apart: Coming Soon to BBC One". Emma Willis.
- ^ Ben Lee (2 July 2015). "Emma Willis is hosting a new ITV series about modern medical 'miracles'". Digital Spy.
- ^ Darvill, Josh (22 October 2017). "Your Song: Emma Willis hosts new show featuring Little Mix and James Arthur". TellyMix. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Your Song, hosted by Emma Willis, to air on ITV this autumn". Press Centre. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
- ^ "Emma Willis: Delivering Babies | W Channel". w.uktv.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "The Great Home Transformation". channel4.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ "The World Cook". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "BBC announces celebration of Team GB's homecoming from Paris Olympics with performances from iconic UK artists". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Channel 4 orders two-part special, Swiped: The School that Banned Smartphones, from BOLDPRINT Studios with Matt and Emma Willis". channel4.com/press. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
External links
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