Busted’s Matt Willis lifts lid on addiction battle & spills secrets of marriage to Emma Willis in warts-and-all new book
BUSTED’s Matt Willis has penned an emotional book about his life on and off the stage.
The musician says he hopes the project will help others who are currently battling addiction issues.
Speaking about Mending: Busted, Breaking and Getting Better, out on October 8, Matt said: “For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to tell this story, or even if I should.
“But over the last few years, I’ve realised that talking honestly about addiction, recovery, family and everything I’ve learned along the way might help someone else.
“This isn’t a book about having all the answers. I definitely don’t.
“It’s about learning that recovery isn’t a finish line, life doesn’t suddenly become perfect, and that we’re all still figuring things out as we go.
“Writing it has been one of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve ever done, and I honestly can’t wait for you to read it.”
Just four weeks before his marriage to Emma Willis in 2008, Matt checked into rehab, and despite a relapse in 2016, he’s now been sober for almost nine years.
He’s a brave man, and I’m looking forward to reading his book.
WANT A BLUE PETER BADGE LIKE HARRY? YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK
HARRY STYLES said it was one of his proudest achievements when he was given a Gold Blue Peter Badge to mark his record-breaking run of 12 shows at Wembley .
But I can reveal that the Beeb has now resorted to giving the famous accolade away on freebie websites in a desperate bid to keep the younger generation tuning in.
Once a prized possession, Blue Peter badges used to be given out strictly on merit.
However, an online listing reads: “The BBC are giving away free Blue Peter badges to anyone aged between five and 15.
“The badge allows you to gain free entry to over 200 attractions. Just send Blue Peter a letter explaining why you’d like one. That’s all.”
I understand it’s a sign of the times, but it seems a bit bleak to give it away for next to nothing.
BRITAIN’S Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas joined American legend Gloria Gaynor for an unlikely collaboration on her 1979 hit I Will Survive at Boogie- town Festival in Surrey at the weekend.
Sydnie said: “I didn’t want it to end. Her love and passion consumes you.
“In that moment, nothing else mattered but the love of music.”
PUB MICK: IT’S CRAWL OVER NOW
SIR MICK JAGGER has revealed how he ended up singing in a pub in Oxford last month.
The global rock icon, whose band The Rolling Stones are on course for their 15th No1 album on Friday with Foreign Tongues, joined an Irish folk group at The Half Moon pub where he sang Handsome Molly with them.
Explaining how it happened, he told the Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast: “I had dinner at an Oxford college and then one of the students who I was talking with said, ‘I play mandolin. I’m going down the road to play with an Irish band. Do you want to come?’.
“I said, ‘Sure’, and I took a couple of people I was with and the provost of the college, who took his gown off.
“The band was doing fiddle pieces and the guy joined in with his mandolin, but no one was singing so I thought, ‘Well, here’s an opening. This is my chance for pub crawl singing’.”
I don’t think you’ll ever have to revert to that, Mick.
Kerry’s all gold
KERRY WASHINGTON was going for gold as she hit the red carpet.
The actress wore this quirky metallic gown at the opening of stage production The Whoopi Monologues in New York.
Things really are going swimmingly for US star Kerry, who appears in the show penned by Sister Act’s Whoopi Goldberg.
The one-woman comedy turn debuted on Broadway in 1984, starring Whoopi herself, pictured with Kerry at the opening.
Speaking on US TV’s The View about the original hit, Kerry said: “Whoopi has been such a groundbreaker – a trailblazer and an inspiration for so many of us.
“Throughout my career, this show became a bonding place with other actresses. I would meet them and we would talk about how it impacted us and our idea of what was possible.”
SET FOR A MAIDEN VOYAGE
IRON MAIDEN have sold a stake in their publishing and master music rights, name and image to the Pophouse Entertainment company run by Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus, with massive plans to expand their legacy.
The big-money deal with Bruce Dickinson and the group was announced yesterday and comes after the firm partnered with other acts including Tina Turner and Kiss.
It will mean the band can pursue new creative ventures, including the filming of their Run For Your Lives tour for a “major cinematic project” as well as “developing a digital universe centered around” their mascot Eddie.
It’s exciting news for fans of the band, given Pophouse is the founding investor in Abba Voyage.
Perhaps Iron Maiden will be returning to a stage, in digital form, soon.
Kim’s heart is racing
KIM KARDASHIAN and Lewis Hamilton’s romance is motoring.
She shared this cute selfie with the F1 legend and her daughter Chicago, taken on a family getaway to Idaho.
Kim captioned the post on Instagram: “Summers at the lake with my favourite people.”
I first revealed in February that Lewis and Kim were dating, before they were pictured at the Super Bowl.
Since then, they’ve jetted all over the world on a series of dates, with Kim recently supporting her man at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Judging by the smile on her daughter’s face, Kim isn’t the only one who’s been won over by Lewis.