Strictly Come Dancing presenter Emma Willis has revealed she was rushed to A&E after suddenly fainting while gaining practical experience during the filming of her medical documentary, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies.
The presenter, who has recently taken on one of the biggest roles on British television as co-host of Strictly Come Dancing, shared details of the unexpected incident during a chat with Tom Allen on his latest Pottering podcast.
Medical background and the fainting incident
Emma revealed that her fascination with medicine was influenced by her mother, who worked for the NHS. She confessed that she had always envisaged herself potentially working in a hospital setting and trained as a maternity care assistant while filming Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, which aired in 2018.
Her mother had previously worked as an auxiliary on a maternity ward before transitioning to a theatre assistant role, meaning Emma had been acquainted with hospitals from a young age, reports the Express.
However, despite being at ease around medical procedures, Emma conceded there was one instance when it all became overwhelming. She explained that while filming the first series, she would continue working full shifts even when the cameras were off, with a staff member helping her gain experience in various areas.
Collapse in theatre
One day, she was asked to observe a post-birth repair in theatre. Emma remembered being eager to witness the procedure as it was something she had not seen before. But as she observed, she started feeling progressively unwell. She began to feel light-headed and informed a staff member: "Oh, I'm not sure. I don't feel okay."
Theatre staff swiftly recognised what was happening and guided her towards the rear exit. Emma revealed she then collapsed just beyond the doorway. Sarah, who was accompanying her, reportedly witnessed her losing consciousness and helped ease her to the ground. Upon regaining awareness, Emma found herself disoriented about her whereabouts.
Emma remembered coming round on the floor and being met with a distinctly peculiar scene. She said: "I woke up and, funnily enough, the first thing I saw was a pair of Crocs. I remember it as clear as day when I was out.
"I was at school picking my daughter up. When I came around, I was like, 'What am I doing here? I thought I was at school picking my daughter up. Why am I in a hospital? Why am I looking at Crocs? Why am I on the floor?' And then it all kind of came back".
Aftermath and Strictly role
As awareness dawned, Emma understood she was indeed in hospital after fainting. The episode meant she needed additional checks, including blood work and an ECG, before she could be discharged. She was also escorted home by a runner in case she lost consciousness once more.
Reflecting on events, Emma confessed to feeling deeply mortified by what had occurred. "I was mortified," she told Tom. Nevertheless, she revealed that those surrounding her weren't quite as understanding as she might have anticipated. "But I tell you what, they all bloody laughed at me," she added.
Emma's medical experience came several years before she took on another significant television role. She's now one of the fresh faces on Strictly Come Dancing, joining forces with comedian Josh Widdicombe and ex-professional dancer Johannes Radebe to form the presenting trio for the show's 2026 series. The new hosts have stepped into the shoes of long-standing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, taking the reins when the BBC dance programme made its comeback in September. Emma's move to Strictly marks another milestone in a TV career that has also seen her helm shows such as The Voice and Big Brother.
