THE KEMPS TALK ABOUT SON ROMAN BEING IN THE JUNGLE
THE KEMPS OPENS UP TO OK!’S KAT ROMERO ABOUT HOW THEY MET, ROMAN’S STINT IN THE JUNGLE AND WHY FAMILY MEANS EVERYTHING TO THEM
The Kemps don’t strike you as your regular kind of family on paper. Dad Martin is part of Spandau Ballet, one of the biggest bands of the ‘80s. He’s also famous for his award-winning role in Eastenders as Steve Owen, and mum Shirlie found fame in the
‘80s with Wham! as part of pop duo Pepsi and Shirlie. But when OK! catches up with the family for our exclusive shoot, it’s son Roman who is about to go under the nation’s spotlight.
Roman, a host on Capital Breakfast, was preparing to enter the I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here! jungle as part of the all-star cast. And it’s clear within minutes of meeting the Kemps, including songwriter daughter Harley, 30, who runs her own production company, they have not let fame go to their heads and they all insist family is what really matters.
Asked what he was most nervous about ahead of his jungle stint, Roman,
26, admitted that he felt a responsibility to do justice to the family name.
Roman is set to spend time away from his girlfriend Anne-sophie Flury during his time on the reality show, but he has no worries about the pair surviving long distance and insists he’s learned everything he knows about love from his parents’ incredible 31-year marriage.
‘I’ve seen the best husband in my dad,’ Roman tells us.
Martin, 58, and Shirlie, 57, recently teamed up for the first time on the album In The Swing Of It, which features covers and original material. They explain that the musical project was to cure their empty nest syndrome after Roman and
Harley left home. ‘It’s given us a new lease of life,’ says Shirlie. The couple admit the collaboration made them think fondly of their friend George Michael, who passed away on Christmas Day 2016, and insist he would have loved to see them duetting. Here, the family discuss Roman’s stint in the jungle, staying grounded and the key to lasting love...
Roman, what made you say yes to I’m A Celeb?
It’s my favourite show on TV by far. My other favourite is Gogglebox and I got to do that with my dad last year.
How did your family and friends react to the news?
My family p***ed themselves laughing. My dad has always taught me to do things that I find fun and enjoyable. I feel a big responsibility though, because I’m going on a show representing the Kemp family name and I have a responsibility to do it justice. My friends think it’s hilarious I’m doing a show with the word ‘celeb’ in, as they like to tell me I’m Z-list. My best mate Matt lists me in his phone as Roman Kemp Z and when I do anything of note, I move up a letter in the alphabet. They certainly keep me grounded!
How do you all think Roman will do?
Shirlie: We are massive fans of the show so it’s going to be so weird seeing my own son on there.
Martin: Roman is a lovely young man so we’ve got no worries about how he will get on.
Shirlie: I just hope he doesn’t get
emotional at any point because, as a mother, that will be hard to watch and I’ll want to take the first flight out to Australia to see him!
Harley: We’ll be counting down the hours until he’s on the TV. We can’t wait!
Is it going to be hard being away from your girlfriend, Roman?
Yes, but she’s so supportive. We live together so she’s going to hold down our little fort until I’m back. She lived in Hong Kong for eight months during our relationship so we’re used to long distance. She’ll probably love a break away from me!
No way. My parents have instilled the value of respect and loyalty in relationships into me. I’ve seen the best husband in my dad and you can’t build something similar if you go on TV and flirt with someone else.
Harley, do you feel the same about your parents’ marriage?
Definitely. I’m so fussy and I’m single. No one will be as good as my mum and dad. I know what true happiness in love looks like so if someone is not worth it, I won’t bother.
Martin: One of the things you really have to look after in a marriage is your friendship because love comes from friendship. Shirlie and I went through an awful time when I was ill [doctors discovered two brain tumours in 1995 and while Martin’s life was saved through surgery and radiotherapy, he was left epileptic, dependent on medication and dyslexic.] That kind of thing could break a couple but it brought us together.
Shirlie: It makes you realise how much you should appreciate what you have.
Martin has a lot of female fans and won Sexiest Male twice at the British Soap Awards during his time on Eastenders. How do you feel about his sex symbol status, Shirlie?
I’ve been around fans a lot in my career, with Wham! and also with Martin. But they’re the people buying your records so I’ve never felt threatened by fans. I think Martin is a star, I don’t blame anyone for fancying him! When Martin got the role in Eastenders, it didn’t bother me that he was being called Sexiest Male because that role had come after he’d been so ill and it signalled this amazing new chapter in his life. When doctors have told you that your husband may never walk again or he may be blind, to then see them living life and winning awards is incredible. So I never feel threatened.
Martin: We’ve always known that what we do is entertainment and being famous is just a job. Eastenders was huge for me because I wasn’t sure I’d be able to memorise the script, so I originally hoped I’d only have a few lines. To then win awards from the show felt like such an achievement.
How did you both meet?
Shirlie: I fancied Martin before I met him because I saw him in a magazine and I thought he looked really kind.
Martin: I saw Shirlie on Tops Of The Pops when I was sat in my mum and dad’s living room. Then a few weeks later we were at this VIP party and I saw her in the corner so I went over and gave her my number. It took her
‘Martin is a star, i don’t blame anyone for fancying him!’
three weeks to call me but we ended up going for our first date at Camden Palace. When I turned up, she was there with her mate George [Michael]. He was the third wheel and we spent the rest of the date trying to ditch him!
Shirlie: I think it’s so weird that we both fancied each other before we even met. I didn’t think Martin would fancy me. But we were meant to be and some people are here to be real-life partners.
This is the first time you’ve worked together in 31 years of marriage. Why did it take so long?
Martin: We’ve always tried to keep work out of our home. I was always worried that if we worked together, home would no longer be our safety area. But because the kids have flown the nest, it was lovely to have a project of our own.
Shirlie: This album has given me a whole new lease of life. When we had kids, I stayed home and held down the fort. You can get very cosy, comfortable and a bit shy. Now, I feel like I’m back in the land of the living.
How does it compare to making music in the ’80s?
Shirlie: Back then, you were pushed to fly off to a different country every other day. You’re not absorbing everything. I didn’t have a camera back then and people ask me if I remember these amazing things I did and I just can’t quite picture it.
Martin: The whole first five years of being in Spandau Ballet, I didn’t take it in. I was just on this giant ride with the band. But those early days were also the best years as you’re so naïve about fame and learning about yourself.
Shirlie: And it was hard for us back then because we were both in big bands and flying around the world on different schedules. I’d be thinking about what country Martin was in that day. Back then I felt like work got in the way.
Roman and Harley, what’s the biggest lesson your parents have taught you about the showbiz industry?
Harley: Always remember to be the nicest person in the room. People don’t always remember if you’re nice but they do if you’re not.
Roman: For me, it’s that nothing else matters but family. I don’t hold a big group of friends. I may go out but I don’t drink a lot. I’ve seen fame on a lot of different levels. I’ve seen my parents’ fame and I’ve seen George’s fame.
You interview a lot of famous people on your breakfast show, Roman. Who has surprised you the most?
Denzel Washington. I was so scared he was going to be this tough Hollywood guy but the second he walked in, he had everyone laughing and my cheeks hurt from smiling.
With Christmas approaching, will you do anything as a family to remember George?
Roman: I have a tattoo on my leg for him but I think of him every day, not just at Christmas.
Martin: We thought about George a lot while in the studio together. It would have been lovely for him to see us working on this album.
Shirlie: He would have loved it. I really do think of him most days.