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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

Matt Willis became 'addicted' to exercise after struggling with drug and alcohol issues

Matt Willis revealed he became 'addicted' to working out as a result of his previous drug and alcohol struggles.

The star, 39, rose to fame when he joined Busted as a bassist. The band was widely popular before it disbanded in 2005.

During the same year, Matt went to London's Priory Hospital to treat his addiction to alcohol. A year later, when he was only 23, he checked in again for drug abuse.

In 2008, he tied the knot with Emma Griffiths but was given a marriage ultimatum by his TV presenter wife as he continued to abuse drugs and alcohol.

And now, Matt revealed that he is sometimes 'triggered' if he isn't able to work out at the gym.

Speaking to Fearne Cotton on the Happy Place podcast, Matt said: "Exercise was a big thing for me... when I found it I was completely and utterly addicted to it.

He was given an ultimatum by his wife in 2008 (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
He went to rehab several times (Getty Images)

"It was great because everything about it was positive."

He added: "And then it became a problem where if I didn't or something got in the way of it I was triggered or I became angry or upset."

His wife Emma previously revealed his relationship with drugs and alcohol 'really changed' following the birth of their daughter Isabelle.

An unearthed interview with his wife Emma, 46, emerged where she discussed the birth of their first child and how it helped expedite Matt’s recovery.

He got 'triggered' when he couldn't work out (mattjwillis/Instagram)

Emma said in a 2020 interview that dating a musician was very hard, but it was more difficult to “understand” Matt’s addiction troubles.

He got sober the year after they married but Emma said she was convinced the birth of daughter Isabelle, now 13, was the turning point.

She became teary-eyed as she told The Telegraph: "What really changed him was our daughter, Isabelle.

He went to rehab the same year the band disbanded (Getty Images)

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"Isabelle was his real… Oh God, I’m going to start crying. Isabelle was his real focus.

“He was already doing it [recovery] himself, then she arrived and that made him even more determined."

Matt is also reportedly filming a documentary about his addictions with BBC, which is said to be expected to air later this year.

An insider told The Sun: "This will be equally personal for Matt, as he has never delved so deep into his past before, at least not in public.'

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