I’m A Celeb star Martin Kemp’s career and life off-screen with famous family and stunning home
From Spandau Ballet to EastEnders, the 64-year-old has had a busy career
Martin Kemp is following in his son Roman’s footsteps, who took part in the show in 2019(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Singer Martin Kemp is part of this year’s star-studded cast taking part in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here. The Spandau Ballet star arrived Down Under earlier this week ready to set foot in the infamous camp for the first time tonight. Excitement is building ahead of the start of the new season.
Ant and Dec will return to front the next edition of TV’s toughest entertainment challenge, which gets underway this Sunday (November 16). The first episode will be broadcast on ITV1 at 9pm and will last 95 mins.
The full line-up has been confirmed after weeks of rumours, with everyone from soap stars, rappers and music legends invited to the jungle camp. Former EastEnders actor Martin Kemp joins the celebrity cast, which includes Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley, sports presenter Alex Scott and rapper Aitch.
Martin is following in his son Roman’s footsteps, who competed on the show in 2019. Speaking about joining the cast after Roman, Martin told The Mirror: “I voted for him to do the worst trials… he said to me he was going to get his revenge….but he told me to go in and enjoy it all.”
Martin Kemp arriving in Brisbane airport ahead of the start of I’m A Celebrity on Sunday(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
He added: “He said it’s the most fun he has ever had and he said, ‘I am really jealous; I know how much fun you are going to have.’” Martin’s former Spandau bandmate, Tony Hadley, 65, also competed on the reality series in 2015, finishing in sixth place.
The 64-year-old landed in Brisbane Airport earlier this week ahead of tonight’s launch show. When asked about what he will miss about the UK, he said: “What am I going to miss….my family, but it’s going to be an adventure.” He added: “I don’t want to take things too seriously and just enjoy it.”
We’ll be seeing a lot of Martin on our screens over the next few weeks, as I’m A Celeb will air every night on ITV1. But what do we know about the musician’s life outside of the jungle?
Spandau Ballet
Born in 1961, Martin is best known as the bassist in Spandau Ballet. He is the younger brother of Gary Kemp, who was also a member of the band. Some of their biggest hits include “Gold”, “True” and “Through the Barricades”.
They also performed on the 1984 Christmas hit, “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” which was part of a charity project by Bob Geldof. Spandau Ballet split up in the early 1990s but got back together almost two decades later and announced a world tour in 2009.
Martin and Shirlie’s son Roman Kemp is also a familiar face on TV(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Acting career
Away from the band, Martin proved to have a talent for acting. He moved to LA in the early 1990s and starred in a number of TV series such as The Outer Limits and Highlander: The Series.
He also starred in ITV police drama The Bill, making a guest appearance. But his most well-known role was as villain Steve Owen in BBC soap EastEnders, a role he took on in 1998 after moving back to the UK.
His character was involved in some of the soap’s most memorable storylines including Saskia Duncan’s murder and “Who Shot Phil?”. He said goodbye to the series in 2002.
Family life
Kemp has been married to Shirlie Holliman since 1988. Shirlie was also no stranger to the spotlight as she began her career as one of the original backing dancers and singers for George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in Wham! in the early 1980s.
Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp married Wham! backing singer Shirlie Holliman in 1988(Image: David Parry Media Assignments/PA Wire)
After leaving Wham!, she formed a duo with fellow backing singer Helen “Pepsi” DeMacque. They were known as “Pepsi and Shirlie”. Shirlie then took a break away from showbiz to give birth to her children.
Martin and Shirlie welcomed their first child in the world, a daughter called Harleymoon back in 1989. Shirlie gave birth to Roman, whose godfather is George Michael, four years later in 1993 when they were living in Los Angeles.
Roman is also a familiar face on our screens, with a long list of TV and radio credits to his name. He is currently one of the couples swapping their luxury lifestyles for an adventure around the world.
The 32-year-old is taking part in the celebrity version of hit BBC show Race Across the World alongside his sister Harleymoon, who is a singer and songwriter.
Home
Martin and Shirlie moved back to the UK shortly after Roman was born. They now live in a stunning Victorian home which they renovated themselves. The couple moved into the property in Hertfordshire in 2021.
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Shirlie, now 63, set up an Instagram account dedicated to their renovation project. She regularly shows off the house’s beautiful interiors as well as its green spaces online. The account on Instagram is called “Maison Number 9”.
The couple spend lots of time in the garden, and Shirlie often posts updates to her followers. In summer, the mum-of-two shared a video of her garden which featured a long table which was set out beautifully in the sunshine.
Taking to the comments, one fan said: “Absolutely stunning” while another wrote: “You have the most beautiful and peaceful looking garden Shirlie. Absolutely gorgeous.”
Martin Kemp in his garden with his dog Iris(Image: Instagram/ShirlieKemp)
In another post, Shirlie told her followers: “I wake up early, so go straight into the garden and before I know it, I’m cutting back and pruning roses . I’m sure there are a lot of people like me making the most of the warm summer mornings in their PJ’s whilst everyone else sleeps.”
The couple also starred in an episode of Love Your Weekend by Alan Titchmarsh, where they allowed viewers to see their impressive garden and outdoor space.
I’m A Celeb
I’m A Celeb is one of the most highly-anticipated shows of the year, as viewers vote for their favourites, as well as who they want to see take part in the Bushtucker trials.
Martin Kemp joins this year’s line-up which includes Alex Scott, Aitch, Angry Ginge, Lisa Riley, Kelly Brook, Eddie Kadi, Ruby Wax, Shona McGarty and Jack Osbourne.
After Roman competed in 2019, he backed his dad to follow in his footsteps.
Roman told The Mirror in 2022: “Listen, I would do anything to see my dad eat llama anus. I’ll tell you why, because when I got nominated the first time, it was the eating trial.
“When you’re in there, you get so paranoid about why people are voting for you, because you’re like ‘am I coming across as a d*** and people want to see me suffer.
“When I got out, I was looking through some of the headlines, and it turns out the only reason I got voted to do that trial at the beginning was because my dad tweeted: ‘Let’s get my son to eat kangaroo anus’. So, my God, I’m very up for him going in.”
I’m A Celebrity airs Sunday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX
