I lost five stone & now men just see me as a ‘skinny blonde girl’…I’m going on Love is Blind but won’t be a trophy wife
They are fronting new dating programme Love Is Blind — and the title seems ironic to Matt, who first met presenter Emma when he was in chart-topping band Busted.
He said with a laugh: “Love wasn’t blind for me. I was like, ‘That’s the fit girl from MTV, I’m going to go straight for that!’.”
Matt, 41, admits he felt like he was punching above his weight with the former model, now 48.
He added: “I’ve always felt like that. I knew from very early on in my relationship, ‘I’m going to grab on for dear life’. And I’ve managed to stick it out for 20 years. We’re quite soppy these days.”
It sounds like Emma was just as bowled over.
She said: “I would have fallen in love with Matt’s personality. But obviously the way somebody looks is going to play a part in it.
“Yes, when you see someone, you need to be attracted to them.
“But the concept of Love Is Blind is seeing if that emotional connection has more longevity than just a physical one that might fizzle out.”
The Netflix dating show is a global smash hit following six series in the US — hosted by married couple Nick and Vanessa Lachey — as well as versions in other countries.
Producers were said to be considering Chris and Rosie Ramsey, as well as Rochelle and Marvin Humes, to present the UK edition.
But Matt and Emma are the perfect choice — because they know romance can be a real roller coaster ride.
Producers were said to be considering Chris and Rosie Ramsey, as well as Rochelle and Marvin Humes, to present the UK edition.
But Matt and Emma are the perfect choice — because they know romance can be a real roller coaster ride.
“With any relationship, when things are good, things are good. But when things hit tough times, or when there’s a rock in the road, that’s when the real test happens.”
Emma added: “Everybody faces a bump. But how big that bump is and how they navigate those bumps are all different.
“Patience, give and take and being able to communicate are all key.”
Matt admitted to a magazine: “I put her through the wringer for a number of years. I came out of that rehab centre three days before we got married.
“She hadn’t said, ‘I’m not going to marry you’. But I knew that was on the cards.”
Emma added: “He had to make a choice. I didn’t want to leave, but I also couldn’t let it be my life, or the life of any kids we might have. Thank f*** he sorted himself out.”
Emma has since had three children with Matt — Isabelle in 2009, Ace in 2011 and Trixie in 2014.
While Matt still plays with Busted, who enjoyed a sell-out 20th anniversary tour last year, The Voice host Emma remains one of TV’s most popular presenters.
Working together on screen, though, is a full-circle moment after their first collaboration on jungle spin-off I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! NOW! in 2007, when Emma was pregnant with Isabelle.
She said: “People have always asked us over the years, ‘Do you think you’d ever do anything together?’.
“And we’ve always said we would if it made sense.
“But then Netflix just approached us and went, ‘What about this?’. And we’re like, ‘Oh, that kind of seems fitting. It’s an absolute yes from us’.”
On Love Is Blind, pairs of singletons sit either side of a pane of frosted glass.
Unable to see each other, they form connections through conversation alone — and after falling in love, some go on to propose.
Only then are they allowed to meet face to face, before going on a luxury holiday and later moving in together.
After just one month there’s a wedding day, when the bride and groom have the chance to say “I do” — or “I don’t”.
Emma said: “We want to intervene all the time, but we’re not allowed. All the way along, we asked, ‘Can we go and chat to them about that?’. And they’re like, ‘No’.
“‘Can I meet the families?’. ‘No’. ‘Can we go to the weddings?’. ‘No’.
“But I get it. Because I think if you want the relationship to work, and for them to thrive, you want it to remain in that bubble for as long as possible.”
Matt said: “I haven’t been on a date since I was 21. I’m 41 now, so the thought of doing it would just be strange.”
Emma added with a laugh: “Even online dating just seems like an absolutely bonkers concept.
“Me and Matt are so old that our relationship pre-dated apps.”