Fans are used to seeing a personable Emma Willis in front of the camera on entertainment shows such as Netflix’s Love Is Blind UK and ITV’s The Voice. But her next role could not be further from the glitz and glamour of TV presenting, as Emma, 48, is trading her day job to experience life as a maternity support worker. The fourth series of UKTV’s Delivering Babies sees Emma – who started out as a trainee maternity care assistant on the fly-on-the-wall show in 2019 - progress to the next step in her training, but in a brand-new environment.
Catching up with Emma for an exclusive chat, she tells Grazia that transferring from Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow to Watford General was extremely nerve-wracking, but pivotal for her growth and development.
She says, ‘I like change and I like learning. I don't want to be the same as I was five years ago. I think I'm much calmer now than I was then, personally and professionally. But that's just time, experience and learning.’
It all comes at a time when the NHS is under terrible strain. What has she learned about the reality of working on a maternity unit in the current climate then?
'My experience is limited to what I’ve seen at Watford General Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in recent years, but the staff in each of these maternity units are truly amazing,' Emma says. 'I’ve grown up around the NHS and I’ve seen my parents work in it for most of my life, so I know that day in, day out, these incredible individuals put their all into caring for anyone who walks through their doors. I know how much you have to love it to be in that type of role, because it’s not an easy job.
'There’s no doubt that there are strains on the NHS, but I’m so grateful to have had the chance to witness first-hand just how much goes into keeping things running smoothly,' she continues. 'There’s a wonderful woman called Jackie at Watford General who has worked there for over 30 years and she is brilliant at person-centred care. When I asked her why she’s been there so long, she said it’s because it’s such a special place. It’s people like that that give all other team members the drive to keep coming back every day.'
It isn’t just a change of scenery and a new team that Emma has to contend with, as she is also getting to grips with additional responsibilities, which predominantly include helping care for the mothers and babies, as well as carrying out routine checks. Speaking to the camera crew in episode one, the presenter says she strives to give off a strong first impression to the families.
How she achieves this, she explains, boils down to her agreeable personality, which has positives and drawbacks. Emma says, ‘I want to look like I know what I'm doing. I want the families to feel comfortable around me and like they're in safe hands. I think those are my approaches not just in work, but in life as well.’
Emma continues, ‘I'm a chronic people pleaser, I always have been. I think that's why I constantly worry about never wanting to let the side down. I'm like, "No, I must do my absolute best, must make everybody happy. Must. Please. People." I've always been like that. I think that is just part of who I am. I've had to learn how not to be that sometimes But also, I do like aspects of it because you want to make people happy. The negatives are you might be going too far with people who are not deserving of it.’
No one f***king knows what they're doing.
Emma has been a popular figure in the entertainment industry since 2002, when she landed her big break presenting on MTV. From there, she scooped gigs on the likes of Celebrity Big Brother, The Circle and The World Cook, but Delivering Babies has taken her to a ‘stage, parallel universe’, as ‘she is experiencing the career she thought she would have through her real-life career’.
And in light of her people-pleasing, Emma admits to Grazia that blocking out the fear of judgement while on the ward was unachievable.
‘That’s anxiety,’ she says simply. ‘I think that always comes from the fact that everything I've done professionally had never been the plan. You’re always thinking, "This isn't what I was meant to be doing, so it's going to show that I was never meant to do this.” But really, we're all just learning. But I think age and experience teach you, “No one f**king knows what they're doing.”
Emma's role means that she works closely with the midwives on the lead-up to, and during labour. Is there anything she's learned about childbirth that she thinks we don't talk about enough?
'Childbirth is one of the most incredible things you can ever really experience,' Emma says. 'Watching that process of what the body goes through and how the maternity team work in sync to help bring life into the world, or the moment where the family meets their baby for the first time. It’s absolute gold dust. One of the biggest things I’ve learnt in my roles as a Maternity Care Assistant and now Maternity Support Worker is that it isn’t always quick and easy and women can have really traumatic experiences.
'My most recent role has been very support focused, whether it’s offering a sip of water or a hand to crush, but that is a very small part of the journey and the maternity teams are the true experts in helping make women feel as comfortable as possible whatever the situation. It’s the biggest privilege to be in the room and see new life come into the world and watch a family either become a family or become a bigger one. If you could bottle that feeling, we could give it to the whole world and it’d be a much happier place.'
Having her own children with husband, Busted musician Matt Willis, enticed her into finding out more about the day-to-day on the maternity ward.
She tells us, ‘I always thought I would end up working in a hospital. When I was a kid, that's what I wanted to do. But not midwifery, as that was not what I thought would be exciting and fun. I had no interest in it really, whatsoever.
‘But the minute I had a baby, and I saw how the midwives help, guide, support and care for you during a time where you feel at your most vulnerable, that was really when I went, “Oh s**t. This is the good stuff. This is where the magic is happening.” That was what made me want to get in there and see what that was like. They just blow you away every single day. They are so selfless.’
Emma and Matt – who wed in 2008 – share three children together: Isabelle, 15, Ace, 12, and eight-year-old Trixie. Does being around babies every day make her broody?
Pondering, she replies, ‘Do you know what, it does for about the first week. I was going to say I got over it, but I was actually quite broody this time.
‘This [series] I was like, “Maybe we should have one more.” Then Matt says it and I'm like, “Are you f**king joking, I'm 48! I can't have another one now.” He's like, “People do” but I literally don't think my body could handle it. When you think about how long it might take to happen… Am I still able to have one? If I was lucky enough, I could be knocking 50 then. I'd be exhausted. I'm exhausted now and the kids are pretty self-sufficient!’
Emma Willis: Delivering Babies continues tonight at 9pm on U&W, or stream all episodes for free on U
Millie Payne is a News and Entertainment Writer for Grazia. She has specialised in showbiz interviews, features, articles and roundups for over three years and loves combining her love for writing, talking and all things popular culture.