5 MINUTES WITH...
Emma Willis, 42 – who trained as a midwife for a new UKTV show, working day and night alongside nursing staff – an experience she will never forget… What made you want to do this series? Two things. I watched my mum do it growing up, so it’s kind of what I always thought I would do. And the second reason was actually having babies myself (Emma is mum to Isabelle, nine, Ace, almost seven and Trixie, two with her husband, pop star Matt Willis). As soon as I gave birth for the first time, I was introduced to what midwives and people who work on a maternity unit do, how much they help you, and the incredible things that they get to witness when they see childbirth.
What were your personal highlights of the series?
There were loads. The home birth I experienced was the most hands-on that I could’ve been in any of the deliveries I was involved with. It was a pretty remarkable experience, and one I’ll absolutely never forget.
What did your mum think about you doing this?
She loved it. She was really interested, too, because the role has changed somewhat since her day. There are things that they do now that they couldn’t do back then, and things that they did then that they can’t do now. So, she was really interested in that side of things – and super-chuffed, as I think she always thought that my vocation – which had always been in a hospital – had disappeared due to (being on) telly.
Do you think you could do this full time?
I think I could! I really liked the fact that they’re (the midwifery team) like a family. And I found it incredibly rewarding to be supporting women when they’re sometimes at their most vulnerable. So, yeah. If it all ends tomorrow, I know I’ve got a plan B!