As Martin Kemp faces the Australian jungle in I'm A Celebrity 2025, the Spandau Ballet star has been sharing intimate details about his personal life that have captivated viewers and campmates alike.
The 'Fake' Marriage That Lasted Decades
One of the most surprising revelations from the 64-year-old entertainer concerns his marriage to Pepsi & Shirlie singer Shirlie Holliman. The couple tied the knot in 1988 during a romantic ceremony in St Lucia, but Martin has now joked that their marriage might not be legally binding.
Speaking from the jungle camp, Martin explained: "I got married in St Lucia on a clifftop overlooking the Caribbean with just three people. If you looked into it more, you'd find we're not married!"
The musician previously told Good Morning Britain that they never received official marriage paperwork following their wedding. "The ceremony was about as quick as, 'Martin, do you love Shirlie?', 'Yes', 'Shirlie, do you love Martin?', 'Yes', 'You're married.' I don't think we've ever got the actual paper to say that we're married," he confessed.
George Michael's Matchmaking Role
The couple's love story began in the 1980s, with none other than George Michael playing Cupid. Martin recalled seeing Shirlie on Top of the Pops with Wham! and being instantly smitten.
"I'd seen Wham! on Top of the Pops singing Young Guns, and I couldn't take my eyes off Shirlie. I thought she was the most beautiful woman I'd seen," he shared with the Daily Mail in 2019.
Their first meeting came two weeks later at a VIP screening, where Martin gave Shirlie his number. However, it took three weeks and some encouragement from George Michael before she finally called. The late singer actually took the number from Shirlie and made the call himself, handing her the phone to speak with Martin.
Family Life and Parenting Philosophy
Martin and Shirlie have built a strong family unit with their two children, both of whom have followed their parents into the entertainment industry. Their son Roman Kemp, 32, is a well-known radio presenter, while daughter Harley Moon Kemp, 36, is also in the public eye.
Currently, both children are competing on BBC's Celebrity Race Across the World, continuing the family's television presence while their father braves the jungle.
Speaking about his parenting approach on The Netmums Podcast in 2023, Martin revealed: "I wanted us four to become like a gang. I think it was more from the fact that Shirlie and I grew up from the age of, like, 17/18 as being famous within bands."
The star believes that their fame actually strengthened their family bonds, explaining: "When you're famous, you want to pull the walls up. You build the moat around yourself so that you and your family are safe. In the end, it did us a favour because what we achieved was the four of us became best friends."
Jungle Life and Family Connections
Martin entered the jungle alongside fellow celebrities including Jack Osbourne, Ruby Wax, Kelly Brook, Aitch, Alex Scott, and Lisa Riley. He's quickly become something of a father figure in camp, sharing entertaining stories from his extensive career.
Before heading into the jungle, Martin sought advice from his son Roman, who finished third in I'm A Celebrity's 19th series in 2019. The radio DJ told his father "not to take it seriously" and to "just enjoy" the experience.
Martin has been openly affectionate about his wife while in camp, telling cameras in the Bush Telegraph: "Shirlie is everything for me; everything I do in my life, I do it for her."
The entertainer also shared a rather scandalous story about the couple's struggles to start a family, revealing that Shirlie initially couldn't get pregnant due to endometriosis. "Then on the night we got married – kaboom!" he announced to amused campmates.
This led to an even more embarrassing revelation about a question from Shirlie's mother, who apparently asked the couple: "Now, have you tried the wheelbarrow?" – prompting comedian Ruby Wax to demonstrate the risqué position to everyone's amusement.
With his net worth estimated at around £3 million from his music and television careers spanning over 40 years, Martin Kemp continues to entertain audiences both in and out of the jungle, proving that whether his marriage is legally binding or not, his commitment to family remains unquestionable.
