Skip to main content

Home Culture Culture Film & TV

Emma Willis on Kylie Minogue, dream The Voice coach and flashing at a Busted gig

Exclusive: "Did I buy any of their singles? Well, I have an ‘in’ with Busted, so I don’t need to!"

By Jamie Tabberer

Emma Willis
Emma Willis (Image: The Circle, Channel 4)

From MTV to Big Brother to The Circle, she’s long been one of TV’s friendliest and most gorgeous faces.

And off-screen, Emma Willis is even more f***ing fabulous – as we discover in our quiz dedicated to amazing people we love.

What’s the difference between interviewing someone famous, like Will Smith, and an icon, like Kim Woodburn?

I’m not sure who I’d rather! Will was a joy – lovely, fun. Kim’s a joy – lovely, fun, but f***ing scary! Although it’s fun when she tells you off. You’ll get more straight-talking answers out of Kim. She’s probably much less media-trained!

We want Kim for this page. 5/5

Who are you most blessed to have met: Kim Woodburn, Julie Goodyear or Tiffany Pollard?

You f***ing love Kim, don’t you?! They’re all queens. Tiffany was a whippersnapper of a great housemate [on Celebrity Big Brother]. But it’s got to be Julie. I grew up watching her as Bet on Coronation Street five nights a week at my house.

For that “David’s dead?!” moment, it’s got to be Tiff. 3/5

Snog, marry, avoid: Rylan, Brian Dowling, Dermot O’Leary.

Argh! How the f*** do you pick? I’d snog Brian, marry Rylan… I was texting him the other night. Did you see him with that f***ing snake in his kitchen?! He was like, “Babe, I’ve got a snake in my house, and I’m f***ing single!” I feel like he could do with a marriage! I don’t want to avoid Dermot, but that’s the name of the game.

Five F-bombs and counting! Dermot’s still got it, of course. 4/5

What’s your favourite memory of working with Kylie Minogue?

The first time I met her [was on The Voice UK]. When I was a teen, she was the biggest thing on the planet. Still is. I had a blonde perm for that woman, wore dungarees because of Charlene on Neighbours. I was obsessed. We had a pre-filming drinks, started chatting; I did the fangirl thing, told her I had a perm for her. She went, “I’m so sorry!” So, my biggest memory is her apologising for my blonde perm at 13.

Well, mullets are back. Perms next? 5/5

What’s your favourite Busted song?

‘That Thing You Do’. There’s a lyric about clothes “lying on my bedroom floor”. After Matt [Emma’s husband] and I met, he changed the words to “hotel floor”, because we were seeing each other… I flashed him at Wembley when he sang it! Did I buy any of their singles? Well, I have an ‘in’ with Busted, so I don’t need to. I bought their reunion album, because we all had to try and get it to Number One!

It’s got to be ‘3am’. 2/5

Which member of Busted has appeared on the cover of Attitude?

Of Busted?! Never! You know Harry Judd wasn’t in Busted, right?! I don’t think it’s Matt. I definitely don’t think it’s James. So, process of elimination: Charlie. I’ve just Googled it. [Confused] It’s not your typical Attitude cover, is it? He’s very dressed!

We can tell apart the pop-rock boys who sparked our teen awakenings — obvs! 5/5

Is it true you turned down a date with Justin Timberlake?

No… That’s just a story that’s escalated. [Laughs mischievously]

Full marks for honesty. We’d have dined out on that rumour forever. 5/5

Who would be your coach on The Voice UK: Boy George, Anne- Marie, or Rita Ora?

That’s hard. [Thinks] Oh, f***. George stands out because, again, I grew up with him. But I’m going to go Anne-Marie. I love her. She’s an absolute delight. Funny, genuine, down-to-earth — an old-school pop star. She doesn’t filter herself.

Sucks to be Rita. 5/5

Which of your old TV shows are you least interested in re- watching?

I did a programme in 2013 that you probably missed — a lot of people did — called Prize Island. I had a brilliant experience, it was a great job, but it didn’t do very well. I am re-watching Delivering Babies with my eldest child. She’s a teenager, and I’m trying to use it to put her off boys!

Genius! 5/5

Score: 87% Attitude

She swears like a trooper, loves A- and C-listers alike, and knows a bad Attitude cover when she sees one. Plus, we’re choosing to believe she’s just being polite about Timberlake. Did we mention she’s a qualified Maternity Care Assistant through Delivering Babies?! Whether back for ITV’s 2023 Big Brother revival or not, Emma will never be evicted from our hearts!

Emma Willis: Delivering Babies airs Thursdays at 9pm on W. Catch up on UKTV Play.