Former Big Brother presenter Emma Willis spoke candidly to Lorraine Kelly about discovering a hole in her heart and needing surgery.
Emma, 49, told the ITV show she felt “very lucky” compared to others who had faced similar health issues.
Her husband, Matt Willis, 42, from the band Busted, supported her during the interview. The couple also opened up about attending therapy together, calling it “the best thing” for their marriage.
Lorraine, who had recently returned to presenting after preventive keyhole surgery to remove her ovaries due to benign cysts, checked in with Emma, who had undergone a more complex heart procedure.
Lorraine asked if Emma had known about the condition beforehand. Emma replied, “No, I found out in January; I literally had it my whole life.”
As an image of Emma in a hospital gown appeared on screen, Lorraine joked, “You even make that hospital gown look good, woman, it’s not fair.”
Emma took a moment to thank everyone who cared for her during her hospital stay, saying, “I genuinely want to thank the hospital and everyone who looked after me—they were amazing.”
She also warned viewers about how fortunate she was, sharing that many people she spoke to had only discovered their own heart issues after suffering a stroke.
Reflecting on her discovery, Emma explained she was tested after doctors noticed she had “very high cholesterol.” A routine scan revealed she had an “enlarged heart.”
Despite some symptoms, she had initially attributed them to “hormonal changes,” not suspecting anything more serious.