BBC Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Joey Crutchley 29 Dec 2024, 17:12 By Joey Crutchley 29 Dec 2024, 17:12 Martin Kemp on warning he was handed ahead of EastEnders role He joined the soap in the 1990s EastEnders Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Joey Crutchley 29 Dec 2024, 17:12 By Joey Crutchley 29 Dec 2024, 17:12 Martin Kemp previously revealed he was warned not to join EastEnders back in the 1990s. The actor – who is on The Festive Pottery Throwdown on Sunday (December 29) – played Steve Owen on the BBC One soap, making his debut in 1998. Martin ended up leaving in 2002. But it seems some people were not too keen about the actor joining the long-running BBC One soap… Martin shared the warning he was given (Credit: This Morning) Martin Kemp landed EastEnders amid brain tumour battle In an interview from 2022, Martin reflected on his life in showbiz. The TV star recalled how in 1995, he noticed a lump on his head. He was then diagnosed with two brain tumours. Due to his diagnosis, he was unable to work for four years. He also developed epilepsy as a result. At the time Martin and wife Shirlie had two young children, and faced financial difficulty. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers But in 1998, he was offered the role of Steve Owen on EastEnders – and Martin jumped at it. Martin was a hit with EastEnders viewers (Credit: BBC) Martin Kemp on being warned not to join EastEnders However, some people issued a warning to Martin over his career decision. He told The Guardian: “Everybody said: ‘Don’t do it, don’t do it – you’re going to ruin your career.’ And I’m thinking, what career? What have I got to ruin?” He went on to share that at the time, he didn’t know if he was “walking left, right, walk over here or walk over there”.Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your EastEnders newsIt's important to us that you never miss our articles when searching for stories! We have all the latest TV news & schedules to share with our community of loyal readers. Click here and tick TVGuide.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search. Martin added: “I knew that I had to do it, not for any other reason but to cure my brain of the leftover effects of the trauma that I’d been through. It was such a good thing.” He then shared how learning the lines and dialogue brought him back to himself, calling it a “brain exercise”. Martin and Shirlie on ‘make or break’ moment Meanwhile, in 2020, Martin opened up about a “make or break” moment in his marriage with Shirley, amid his brain tumour diagnosis. “The time when I was really sick was when it could have ended for me and Shirlie,” he said in a joint interview with Shirlie with Classic Pop magazine. “For most couples, that moment makes you or breaks you. It made us stronger, but the stress is so humongous it can tear couples apart,” he then continued. Shirlie then added: “When you’re with someone who’s that critically ill, it strips away everything. You see life for what it truly is and we realised life is so precious.” Watch Martin on The Festive Pottery Throwdown on Sunday (December 29) at 5:35pm on Channel 4. Read more: The One Show viewers slam show for letting Roman Kemp interview famous mum and dad Martin and Shirlie So what do you think of this story? You can leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know. Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google Good to Know Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Joey Crutchley 29 Dec 2024, 17:12 By Joey Crutchley 29 Dec 2024, 17:12 Previous Story Next Story
