Celebrity Race Across the World: Roman Kemp's tattoos and meanings including tribute to late friend Joe Lyons
The star has admitted he is 'addicted' to inkingsRoman Kemp is set to bare all – well, almost – as he shows off his extensive tattoo collection on Celebrity Race Across the World.
The presenter is racing across the globe with his sister Harleymoon, and this week’s episode sees the pair take a breather at the beach. As they gather coconuts, Roman whips off his top, giving viewers a full look at the intricate ink that covers his torso and arms.
The sun-soaked moment comes as the teams push on towards their fifth checkpoint in Colombia.
During one leg of their journey, Roman and Harleymoon end up staying with a family on an incredibly remote island – the kind of place where the world feels a million miles away. Harleymoon admits she’s never felt so far from home, but the pair soon settle in as they get to know the parents, their children and, charmingly, their pet pigs.
Roman instantly bonds with the couple’s young sons, chatting football and kicking about in the sand. Harleymoon, meanwhile, has her own heart-melting moment on the beach as she gently strokes a tiny piglet, completely smitten.
Roman Kemp’s tattoo collection
Roman has more than 20 tattoos etched on his body and they range from silly, poignant and really interesting. The most noticeable ones Celebrity Race Across the World viewers will spot are the giant lion and eagle on his chest. He also has both a snake and scorpion on his stomach.
One of Roman’s most special inkings is a tribute to his best friend Joe Lyons, who died in 2020. Joe died from suicide and Roman has worked hard to break the stigma of mental health in men ever since.
Roman now has a tattoo of a swallow holding a rose in its beak inked onto his forearm to match and identical one Joe had.
Other tattoos include a large anchor overlayed with a lizard beside his left rib. On his back, Roman has several large designs. These include a flying dragon. There’s also a shark tattoo on his left arm, which has a tiny moon and a writing underneath.
Over the years, Roman has also bravely allowed his celeb pals to tattoo him. He also had the song title Nice to Meet Ya inked onto his leg by One Direction star Niall Horan. But due to the singer’s typo, the tattoo permanently reads “Nice to melt ya”.
Ed Sheeran has also inked Roman with the words “Ed woz ‘ere 2k7” in a tiny font. Additionally, Roman has Bart Simpson’s face on his leg.
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Roman Kemp said he was ‘addicted’ to tattoos
Roman got his first tattoo at just 17, and earlier this year he confessed he’s now “addicted”. In fact, during an interview with The Guardian, he revealed he was having a portrait of one of his football heroes, Thierry Henry, inked onto his shin as they spoke.
Despite being covered in artwork, Roman says he still dreads the pain of each new session. These days he opts for numbing cream, having learned the hard way.
“When I first started having them, especially some of the bigger ones, a lot of parlours want you to have the full experience,” he admitted. “And I just suffered for many hours, and hated it. I’m too much of a wuss to do it any more to myself. I refuse to sit here in pain.”
Roman also said he avoids getting tattoos on his arms or neck because of his TV work.
But gesturing to his torso, he joked: “But from here down, we’re losing real estate, basically. It’s 100% addictive.”
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Read more: Celebrity Race Across the World’s Harleymoon Kemp questions whether she wants a husband and kids
