Matt Willis has said that he feels 'a lot of guilt' about 'removing himself' from late pal Amy Winehouse's life to get sober – before her death from alcohol poisoning.
The Busted star, 43, and the singer, who died at the age of 27 in 2011, grew up together in London and became close friends.
But both battled severe addictions, and when Matt decided to get clean once and for all ahead of his wedding to wife Emma, they removed themselves from each other's lives to protect him during his recovery process.
Now in a new interview he has spoken about her death, saying: 'It hit me like a ton of bricks, I had a lot of guilt. I loved her so much, we were really close.
'When she died I was clean. I hadn't seen her for a while because I had to remove myself from everyone, from places that were dangerous, and then she died.
'And I felt some guilt about that because I was like 'I had something to pass on to you,' and I didn't get the chance to do that'.
Matt Willis has said that he feels 'a lot of guilt' about 'removing himself' from late pal Amy Winehouse's life to get sober – before her death from alcohol poisoning (seen in 2007)
The Busted star, 43, and the singer, who died at the age of 27 in 2011, grew up together in London and became close friends
But both battled severe addictions, and when Matt decided to get clean once and for all ahead of his wedding to wife Emma, they removed themselves from each other's lives
He added to Sunday People that it took him a 'long time' to ever talk about her and that if he ever went into a shop that was playing her music he would have to walk out because it made him cry.
Earlier this year, Matt revealed that he and Strictly host Emma, 50, got married just three days after he left rehab.
The TV presenters married in 2008 and share three children together, but Matt admitted that their wedding day was blighted by his stint in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction, reflecting 'I shouldn't have been there really when I think about it.'
The musician has been open about his struggles to stay sober after being launched to fame at just 19 years old when he joined his band.
He entered rehab three times before he turned 25 – including just one month before he married Emma after she issued him with an ultimatum about his substance abuse.
Speaking in an emotional episode of his podcast On The Mend, Matt explained how he spiralled into a booze and drugs binge when Emma was abroad filming a TV show weeks before their wedding.
'That two weeks she was away, I was worse than I've ever been,' he admitted, explaining how his '24/7' drinking left him fearing he was 'going to die'.
Matt's drugs counsellor and his Busted tour manager got the star to a rehab centre in Bournemouth only for him to make a run for it as soon as he reached the door.
He ended up buying 'as much alcohol as [he] could' from a nearby shop, got 'absolutely wasted' and passed out in the street.
Earlier this year, Matt revealed that he and Strictly host Emma, 50, got married just three days after he left rehab
It was a stranger who found him and physically carried him through the door of the rehab centre.
That proved to be a turning point for Matt, who admitted: 'I put my head down and I was like, 'Right, I'm going to do everything I'm told. I'm going to listen to advice. I'm going to take everything on'.
'And I did that because I had a wedding coming up and I got out of that rehab on the Thursday and I got married on the Saturday morning.'
Matt explained how he turned up to marry Emma 'clean and sober', with his drugs counsellor remaining by his side on the day.
'It was not the greatest of days for me. It was a weird thing getting married when you're scared,' he explained, adding that he managed to stay sober for the whole day despite paying for a free bar and sambuca wedding favours for his guests.
'Everyone knew I'd just been out of rehab. Everyone knew what a mess I was. Like it had been quite apparent to everybody,' he said of his loved ones.
'I think they were surprised that I was there and that she was there.
'We were watching our wedding video not too long ago and I reckon everyone gave us six months. 'This will end up in disaster!''
'I shouldn't have been there really when I think about it. It was terrible, you know, to come out of rehab and get married three days later.
'But if I hadn't done that, I would not have been at that day.
'I would have not turned up or I would have let her [Emma] down in some way and it wouldn't have happened. So, I'm pleased that the events happened to get me there.
'I wish I'd been a couple of months further down the line so I could have maybe enjoyed the day a bit more rather than gripping on to my chair for dear life.'
The couple renewed their vows in 2018 to mark their tenth anniversary.