Love Is Blind UK hosts Emma and Matt Willis have a surprising throwback: long before they front Netflix’s dating show, both appeared on EastEnders, crossing paths in the famed Albert Square years apart.
Emma Willis’s EastEnders stint came first. In 1999, she appeared as a minor character named Jodie in a single episode, acting alongside Jodie’s mum, played by Joanna Hole. A photo from the episode shows a younger Emma with much longer hair compared to her current, signature short style.
Matt Willis’s EastEnders cameo came earlier and then later in a more substantial role. He first appeared in 1998 as an unnamed teenager on a skateboard. More prominently, in 2014, Matt played Luke Riley, Stacey Slater’s boyfriend. Luke was the man Stacey lived with in London after she had been living under the alias Jenny Smith, a fact that complicated their relationship.
Stacey Slater’s storyline around Luke involved a collision of loyalties and secrets. Although Luke cared for Stacey, he eventually learned of her murder-related past and chose to leave, a decision that left Stacey devastated.
Meanwhile, Love Is Blind UK’s second season is proving to be a hit on Netflix, continuing to captivate fans with its fresh connections and fiery personalities. Emma and Matt, who first met in 2004 when Emma interviewed the then-23-year-old Matt after he rose to fame with Busted on MTV’s TRL, are now a real-life married couple. They wed a few years later at Rushton Hall, Northamptonshire, and have three children born in 2009, 2011 and 2014. Their long-running partnership adds an extra layer of charm to their on-screen chemistry as presenters.
Adding this EastEnders trivia to their current roles underscores the diverse paths people take in television. If you’re a Love Is Blind UK fan, you might enjoy revisiting those classic EastEnders moments to spot Emma and Matt in their earlier acting days, then continue following them as they guide couples through the latest season of Netflix’s dating competition.
Summary: Emma and Matt Willis’s early EastEnders cameos offer a nostalgic peek into their careers before becoming Love Is Blind UK’s hosts, while their ongoing marriage and family life add a positive backdrop to their TV journey. Looking ahead, their experiences across music, acting and hosting contribute to a hopeful narrative about evolving careers in television.
Additional notes:
– For readers, it can be fun to contrast Emma’s 1999 Jodie look with her current, cropped hairstyle.
– Fans might enjoy a quick rewatch of the 1998 skateboarding scene and the 2014 Luke Riley storyline to spot Matt in the Square.
– If you’re catching up on Love Is Blind UK, season two brings more quick connections and strong personalities, with Emma and Matt guiding the conversations and moments.