Emma Willis, the new Strictly presenter, was reduced to tears at the Peugeot Attitude Pride Awards Europe in London on Friday, as she spoke candidly about her three children and her hopes for their future. The 50-year-old took the stage at The Chancery Rosewood hotel in Mayfair and emotionally shared her fears for Isabelle, 17, Ace, 14, and Trixie, 10, whom she shares with husband Matt Willis of Busted.
Emma Willis's Emotional Plea for Her Children
"I've got three kids and I want to live in a world where they are free to be themselves, where they feel safe to express themselves in whatever way they choose. And that they are free to love whoever they choose without fear," she said through tears. She added, "This is, I think, the most important awards ceremony of the year. We are shining a light on the real people who make a real difference."
Labeling herself as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, Willis urged attendees to call on her whenever needed. "All you have to do is shine a glitter ball into the sky and I will come running any time of the day," she joked.
Madonna's New Album and a Lighthearted Moment
Willis also brought humor to the event, referencing Madonna's newly released album Confessions II, a follow-up to her 2005 hit Confessions On A Dance Floor. She quipped that many attendees were likely trying to sneak a listen during the ceremony. "So we are going to be doing a full sweep of the room between each award to make sure you're not all craftily listening to it," she said, adding that the after-party DJ would play the new tracks.
Parenting in the Digital Age
In 2024, Willis and her husband revealed they had changed their parenting approach after participating in a Channel 4 documentary titled Swiped. The documentary explored the impact of smartphones on children's behavior, challenging a group of Year 8 pupils and themselves to give up smartphones for 21 days. The experiment showed improvements in sleep, alertness, and reduced anxiety. Willis told The Mirror, "You only go into something like this if it speaks to you and you want to help shift the needle. All you ever really want is to keep kids safe and I hope this can make a little change in some way."
