I’m A Celeb star Martin Kemp’s Back to the 80s tour, age and famous soap role | Wales Online
Martin Kemp, who’s currently in the I’m A Celeb jungle, rose to fame as the bassist for the 1980s New Romantic band Spandau Ballet, but transitioned into a career in acting
Matt Davies Trendswatch Reporter
17:00, 04 Dec 2025
Martin Kemp on I’m A Celebrity(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Everything you need to know about I’m A Celeb star Martin Kemp
- Martin Kemp shot to fame as the bassist for the 1980s New Romantic group Spandau Ballet (known for such hits as Gold and True), a band that also included singer Tony Hadley and Martin’s brother, Gary Kemp. Over the course of its success, the group sold more than 25 million albums around the world and performed at the now-legendary Live Aid in 1985.
- He later switched to a career in acting, starring in such films as 1990’s The Krays, the US horror film Embrace of the Vampire, and the more recent 2020 romantic comedy The Loss Adjuster. However, he’s probably most famously known for his role as Steve Owen in the long-running BBC soap EastEnders.
- The 64-year-old hasn’t abandoned his musical roots, however, as he continues to tour the UK with his Back To The 80s DJ set, offering nostalgic fans the opportunity to indulge in some of the best-known anthems of the era. And, with a Christmas special and tour dates lined up throughout 2026, it seems Martin isn’t stopping any time soon.
- Married to Shirlie Holliman (of Wham! and Pepsi and Shirlie fame) since 1988, Martin has two children, Harley Moon Kemp, who was born in 1989, and her younger brother, Roman Kemp, who was born in 1993. Roman is also a celebrity in his own right, presenting The One Show and The Finish Line on the BBC, as well as appearing in Celebrity Race Across the World alongside Harleymoon.
- In his personal life, Martin, who’s currently in the I’m A Celeb jungle, faced a major health battle when an MRI scan in 1997 revealed that he had two brain tumours; one was removed surgically, while the other was tackled with radiotherapy. He and Shirlie also suffer from tinnitus, something Martin theorised to Gaby Roslin on her podcast had originated from when his ear was “pointed at my amplifiers”.
- READ MORE ABOUT MARTIN HERE: The One Show star Roman Kemp’s brutal reaction to dad Martin joining I’m A Celebrity line-up
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