I'm A Celebrity 2025: Martin Kemp's son Roman in the jungle, brush with death and all about his three kidneys
Martin Kemp is ready for the adventure
Martin Kemp, best known as the bassist for Spandau Ballet and for his role as Steve Owen in EastEnders, says he regrets voting for his son Roman to do all the trials when he was in I’m A Celebrity in 2019 because now he will get his revenge.
Roman came third when he appeared on the show. Now Martin vows to try and beat him, while promising to enjoy every minute in camp and make the most of the adventure.
Joining Martin in the I’m A Celebrity 2025 line-up are Kelly Brook, Shona McGarty, Lisa Riley, Ruby Wax, Alex Scott, Jack Osbourne, Eddie Kadi, Angry Ginge and Aitch. But what is there to know about the pop icon?
Here’s everything you need to know about the London-born star…
Martin Kemp’s most famous songs
Martin joined his brother Gary’s band, Spandau Ballet, in the early 80s as the bass guitarist. The siblings shot to fame alongside frontman Tony Hadley, drummer John Keeble and saxophonist Steve Norman.
Spandau Ballet’s other hits include Gold and Through The Barricades. They also notably contributed to the 1984 Band Aid single Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Do Martin and Gary Kemp get along?
Despite Martin admitting he and Gary had their fair share of arguments while they were in the band, the brothers are still very close and are regularly in touch.
In an interview with The Guardian from 2022, Martin reflected on his time in the group and his relationship with Gary.
“If there were arguments, Gary and I would go into a room and argue it out. Even to the point where we used to have proper fist fights. Because the pressure of the whole thing was too much,” he said.
Martin Kemp’s three kidneys
During an X-ray as an adult, Martin was shocked to learn that he had been born with three kidneys. What is even more bizarre is the fact that his older brother, Gary, was born with only one.
When quizzed about the abnormality on ITV’s Loose Women, he said: “I’ve got two big kidneys and one really small one. But my brother, who was born two years earlier, has one. We’re not even twins!”
Who is Martin Kemp married to?
Martin married former Wham! backing singer Shirlie Holliman in 1988. The couple have two children; the Kemp offspring Harleymoon and Roman are currently taking part in the BBC’s Celebrity Race Across the World.
Shirley and Martin met through mutual friend George Michael. Martin told The Times: “Shirlie brought George on our first date. He was her mate from school in a tiny band he was trying to get off the ground called Wham!. I spent all night trying to get rid of him so Shirlie and I could spend time on our own!”
How many brain tumours has Martin Kemp had?
He told The Times: “There were times when I wasn’t going to make it. One minute I was working harder than I’ve ever done, then all of a sudden I was on the operating table. It’s like a car crash. It comes out of nowhere.
“Life went wonky for about five years. It was terrifying for my family. I remember lying in hospital and I had to stop them from coming in because they were scaring me.”
Martin has since revealed that the recovery from the operations has left him with dyslexia.
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When was Martin Kemp in EastEnders?
Following his health troubles, Martin joined the cast of EastEnders in 1998, which he says was his saving grace.
He told The Independent: “Looking back, I will always appreciate EastEnders because it took me out of that part of my life that was all about the brain tumour.
“When I joined EastEnders, I was struggling to remember lines. Sometimes, if I needed to walk left, I would walk right. There was stuff I was keeping to myself. My brain was still repairing itself.”
What order do Martin Kemps’s books go in?
As well as being a talented musician and actor, Martin is also an author. He has written two successful crime thrillers, which were met with rave reviews when they were published.
The first novel, The Game, tells the story of Johnny Klein, a fallen ’80s pop icon, and it was released in 2023. Martin’s second Johnny Klein novel, The Fall, came out in October 2025.
Martin also wrote an autobiography called True in 2000. In 2020, he co-wrote a book with his wife called Shirlie and Martin Kemp: It’s a Love Story, about their life together.
How long did Roman Kemp last in I’m A Celebrity?
Roman Kemp appeared in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2019.
He finished in third place – no pressure, Martin!
Read more: I’m A Celebrity spin-off show returns to ITV2 for 1025
