HEART of the matter

Married couple EMMA and MATT WILLIS on helming a UK version of a global hit dating show

- VICTORIA WILSON

LOVE IS BLIND: UK

NEW FROM WED 7 AUGUST, NETFLIX REALITY (EPS 1-4 FROM WED 7 AUG; EPS 5-9 FROM WED 14 AUG; EPS 10 & 11 FROM WED 21 AUG)

When TV Times catches up with Emma and Matt Willis at Netflix's London HQ, it's easy to see why they have been chosen to present Love Is Blind: UK.

Tying the knot in 2008, The Voice UK host Emma and musician Matt playfully tease each other while telling us about launching a homegrown version of the global dating show.

'We watched one episode of the US version of Love Is Blind and then binged the whole series over a few days!" says Matt, 41, who rocketed to fame in the noughties as one third of Busted.

'We all love watching people fall in love,' adds Emma, 48. 'So when Netflix approached us about hosting the UK version, we were like, "Yes, please! We want this!"

The 11-parter sees single men and women date each other via specially designed 'pods', where they can hear their potential love match but can't see what they look like. If a couple gets engaged, they finally meet face to face. But as reality bites, will they marry the person they fell blindly in love with?

Here, Matt and Emma reveal why they are enjoying playing Cupid and how a TV entertainment extravaganza played a role in their own love story...

What do you think has motivated the 30 participants to sign up for this show?

EMMA Our singletons are basically sick of not finding love on dating apps, so they think, ‘Let’s try this option instead.’ I love matchmaking! I’m not very good at it, but I like seeing people who want to settle down meet someone and be happy.