EastEnders star Martin Kemp is a big name in showbiz, but some fans might not know that his 80s pop star wife Shirlie Kemp is a famous entertainer in her own right.
On the BBC soap, Martin Kemp, 59, played the shady businessman and villain Steve Owen on Albert Square in a run from 1998 to 2002.
Martin also had a successful pop career of his own as the bassist in Spandau Ballet which ran from 1979 to 1990 – finding success in the 80s with catchy hits like True and Gold – before the band reunited for another stint from 2009 to 2019.
Martin is also set to re-appear on Channel 4’s Celebrity Gogglebox with his radio host son Roman Kemp this year for its third series which kicks off on June 4 at 9pm.
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However, his talented wife Shirlie Kemp, 59, was part of one of the biggest pop groups of the 1980s in Wham, where she backed up pop icon George Michael.
Shirlie also found success as one half of Pepsi & Shirlie which formed after Wham! split up in 1986, and the pair had two Top 10 UK hits – Heartache which reached an impressive number two in the charts and Goodbye Stranger which peaked at number 9.
Wham! were one of the most commercially successful pop acts of the entire decade, selling more than 30 million records worldwide from 1982-1986 with smash hits like Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and festive classic, Last Christmas.
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Shirlie also featured as a vocalist on Spice Girls star Geri Halliwell’s number one hit Bag It Up back in 2000.
Shirlie and Martin have been married since 1988 after George Michael himself played matchmaker between the two, and Martin and Shirlie even appeared together in the romantic music video for Last Christmas in 1984.
The couple’s son Roman Kemp, 28, is also a star these days, now well known now as a Capital Radio and TV presenter.
Broadcaster Roman even revealed how his superstar parents got together with the help of George Michael whilst appearing on I’m a Celebrity in 2019 as a contestant.
Speaking to his campmates including Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway on the show he said: “My mum always says that she said to George Michael at a party that she was going to marry him (Martin).
(Image: Daily Mirror)
“On their first date George went with them. My mum didn’t want to go on her own.
“They went to go and see Sade at the Camden Palace. My dad said he spent the whole day trying to get rid of him (George).”
During his time in Walford Martin was involved in perhaps one of the shows most famous moments when Steve became one of the top suspects in the classic “who shot Phil?” storyline.
Martin was critically acclaimed in his EastEnders role as Steve winning five British Soap Awards over the years, and by the time he departed the show in 2002 he was one of the best known faces on British TV.
Martin and Shirlie have two children together – daughter Harley as well as their son Roman.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
