I'm A Celebrity 2025: Martin Kemp's son Roman defends revealing private details about his dad online
Martin previously admitted he struggles to trust peopleI’m A Celebrity favourite Martin Kemp might be copping flak for his limited airtime, but there’s no denying he looks to be loving every minute of camp life – from the banter to the Jungle Arms sing-alongs.
But behind all that warmth and nostalgia, son Roman Kemp has now revealed a heartbreaking truth about his dad.
As he does most nights, Roman hopped onto X to share his reactions to last night’s episode (December 2). What his followers didn’t expect, though, was the emotional confession that followed – one that cast Martin’s time in the jungle in an entirely different light.
Roman Kemp makes emotional Martin Kemp admission
“One thing I have noticed is my dad keeps saying ‘my new friends,'” Roman wrote. “He genuinely doesn’t have mates, so he means it, he’ll really be chuffed. Again, not being mean, that’s the truth.”
In the replies, viewers made their feelings known. “Why would you write this about your dad on the internet?” one asked. To which Kemp replied: “I mean, we are pretty open. Also the fact he’s said it on about a million podcasts.”
“Power to your Dad for not feeling the need to tick social norms,” another wrote. While a third added: “Stop it Roman, I was already tearing up at the huge grin on his face. This has sent me over the edge.”
Users also stepped up to be friends with Martin themselves.
A fourth declared, “Happy to be his friend, anytime pop in for a cuppa,” while a fifth asked Roman, “But why though? Why doesn’t he have friends? He’s just the nicest guy ever!”
And someone else penned: “He’s clearly comfortable with his loved ones around him. I bet the new friends he’s made will be with him for a long time after the jungle.”
Others weren’t as positive, with one user claiming: “I’m not surprised he doesn’t have mates when he is that boring!”
I’m A Celebrity star Martin Kemp on friends
Back in 2023, Roman came under fire for saying his father has no friends. He went on to address this with Martin on their shared podcast (via The Express) in 2024.
“Yeah, that’s quite true,” Martin replied, adding: “I don’t have any mates,” while admitting: “I don’t know why.”
Martin insisted that it’s “not that I don’t like people” and “enjoy people’s company”.
The heartbreaking reason for Martin’s lack of friends revealed
Roman’s post took a gut-punch turn as he shared a deeply raw moment between himself and his dad. While Martin acknowledged that people find him likeable, he then questioned why – if that were true – no one had invited him to the cinema or asked him out socially. He went on to admit that he hasn’t “hung out” with anyone in 35 years.
“The only people that I’ve ever seen as mates, as real mates, that I trust completely are the people that are in my band, that I spent a lifetime with, we travelled the world together and we discovered our personalities together,” Martin told his son.
“They are the people that I would think of as my real friends, we have shared secrets that only us know of.”
But as fans know, Spandau Ballet’s implosion was messy and painful, with lawsuits and fractured relationships leaving deep scars. Martin admitted that the fallout still affects him today.
“The way the band fell apart in the end is the reason I start thinking, ‘can I really trust anyone?’” he said. “Maybe that’s why I don’t have any friends.”
It was a heartbreaking confession – and one that cast Martin’s jungle journey in a whole new light for viewers.
