Emma Willis has spoken out about her much-discussed interview with former ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ housemate Roxanne Pallett.
Emma was one of two interviewers who got the chance to speak to Roxanne following her ‘CBB’ exit, which came after she admitted she’d exaggerated allegations that fellow contestant Ryan Thomas had punched her repeatedly in the ribs.
The interview made headlines thanks to Emma’s tough line of questioning, as well as her no-nonsense facial expressions throughout the interview.
Reflecting on the interview, she told You magazine: “I’ve never tried to impose my view on the audience, but when something like this happens, something that felt so wrong, I couldn’t hide my own opinions.
“Sometimes we do have light, fluffy chats about people in the ‘Big Brother’ house and then sometimes really serious shit happens in there and you’ve got to be able to ask the questions everybody is thinking.”
Discussing the media storm that Roxanne was at the centre of, Emma admitted: “I was shocked at what unfolded – it was almost like a plot from a soap opera.
“Thank God there were cameras, because it could have ruined Ryan, such was the gravity of the situation.”
While Emma was lauded for her interview technique, broadcaster Jeremy Vine was criticised by some viewers for his lighter approach when Roxanne was on his daytime show, which he later said was because he feared for her mental state.
Since the incident, Ryan was crowned ‘CBB’ winner - possibly the last ever - while Roxanne has retreated from the spotlight and pulled out of both her regular radio presenting job and an upcoming pantomime role.