THE INTERVIEW

Emma Willis

3 September 2018

The presenter, ex-model and mother of three is back with her latest edit of must-have pieces for the season ahead. Here, she talks pre-show nerves, motherhood and her experience working on a maternity ward for her new show, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies launching this autumn. 

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Who are the most influential women in your life?

My mum is definitely the most influential woman in my life, and then it would be my sisters – I’m the middle child. I try to only surround myself with people who can make me better as a human being so I have a small group of very close female friends, some that I’ve known since school. Giovanna Fletcher is a really great friend of mine, too. I think it’s lovely to have lots of people in your life but when you have kids, you barely have time to speak to your husband let alone anyone else – and your lifestyle changes and people's paths take different directions so I’ve found the people I have the strongest connection with are the ones that I really make time for.

Who is your female role model?

My mum, Cathy. She is awesome and everyone that meets her agrees. She’s very level headed and capable and just knows stuff, like real mum stuff; even little things like getting stains out of a white T-shirt – I’m 42 and feel like I should have learned how to sort that but she’s always like, don’t worry just leave it on the side and I’ll sort it. She’s tons of fun, too. I think if all my mates had the chance of going on a night out with me or my mum, they would pick her. We call her either King Cath or the Prosecco Princess.

What’s your first memory of feeling powerful as a female?

Giving birth. I think it’s the one time in life when you feel the most vulnerable and reliant on other people, but then after it’s happened and you realise what you’re body has done, you just think – I am awesome. My husband Matt [Willis of boyband Busted] and I have three kids now. They’re nine, six and two and just amazing little humans.

Tell us about your new programme and what it’s been like working as a maternity care assistant:

I always thought I would work in a hospital if I didn’t do what I do now so it’s been an incredible experience. My mum was an auxiliary nurse for 15 years and then a theatre assistant so the medical world is something I’ve always been interested in. It wasn’t until I had a baby myself though that I became particularly interested in maternity. Once you’ve had a child you realise what these women help you do – they really are game-changing human beings. Working with them for the documentary and witnessing babies being born has been phenomenal.

How do you cope with being in the public eye – is it something you ever get used to?

I don’t really think about it or think of myself in that way – I just do my job and get on with feeding and raising humans.

How do you deal with nerves before a live show?

I laugh my way through my nerves – with everyone else and at myself. It’s always the first link on a live show that’s the most terrifying as I think if I mess that up, then I will pick myself to pieces until the end of the show. So if I do mess up an opening, I have to laugh it off – and if I don’t mess it up, I usually take a deep breath of relief knowing that the first bit is out of the way.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Trust your gut. My mum taught me that and mums definitely do know best.

What are your favourite pieces from the latest edit and why?

The pyjama sets! I’m so happy with them. And there are a lot of coats that I love in the edit – the leopard print one especially. I also really like the pinstriped suit and the cords are a really great transition piece – chilled for daytime but you can dress them up for dinner too. I love all the pieces really, that’s why I picked them!

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