Latest news with #Shirlie
Wales Online
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Martin Kemp says 'it was as quick as that' as he opens up on marriage 'doubt'
Martin Kemp says 'it was as quick as that' as he opens up on marriage 'doubt' Martin Kemp has opened up on his relationship with wife Shirlie Holliman, admitting that he doubts the couple are actually married despite tying the knot in St Lucia in 1988 Martin Kemp and Shirlie Kemp (Image: Jeff Spicer, Jeff Spicer/WireImagevia Getty Images ) Martin Kemp has revealed that he's not entirely sure if he and his wife Shirlie are officially married, despite having a ceremony in St Lucia over 35 years ago. The Spandau Ballet star reminisced about falling for Shirlie "through the television" as she performed with Wham! on Top Of The Pops back in 1982. Speaking to the Mirror, Martin recounted how he was completely smitten with Shirlie after her performance, finding himself in a "bubble" where he could "couldn't think of anything else" until they finally met a few weeks later. Shirlie, on the other hand, had developed a "crush" on Martin after seeing him in a magazine, which led to their mutual friend George Michael orchestrating their first meeting, reports Devon Live. Despite feeling too daunted to ring Martin herself, Shirlie got a helping hand from George Michael, who made the call and handed her the phone. Shirlie Holliman and Martin Kemp (Image: Jeff Spicer, Getty Images ) Article continues below The pair, both aged 63, have been inseparable since they started dating and held their wedding in St Lucia in 1988. However, during an appearance on Tracks Of My Years with Vernon Kay on BBC Radio 2, Martin expressed doubts about the legality of their nuptials. He shared a vivid memory from their wedding day: "I remember that, on the day we're getting married, I'm standing on this clifftop that is overlooking the Caribbean and it's sparkling, and there's only me there and the lady who's going to marry us." Continuing the story, he described Shirlie's arrival: "I'm waiting for Shirlie, and Shirlie turns up in this old pickup truck coming up the hill, and she climbs out in this tiny white mini dress, with big high heels on, and she's hobbling up to the point where we're going to get married. "This lady says 'Martin, do you love Shirlie?'. Okay, yep. 'Shirlie, do you love Martin?'. Yep, you're married. It was as quick as that. To this day, Vernon, I doubt very much if we are married." Martin said that he doesn't believe the couple were ever given a wedding certificate, but stressed that he "thinks we're married, so it's all good". Martin, Harley Moon, Shirlie and Roman Kemp (Image: (Image: Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) ) The couple have enjoyed 37 years of marriage in the years since, as well as having son Roman and daughter Harley Moon. However, it's not been all plain sailing for the pair. In 1995, the actor was diagnosed with two brain tumours and was unable to work for three years. The couple had to downsize their home and Martin had invasive surgery to remove the largest, leaving him with dyslexia, memory loss and epilepsy. Shirlie admitted that she feared Martin would die during the second, riskier, operation before stepping in and saying to the doctor 'I don't think we want to do that". Article continues below She spent the next few months searching for an alternative method and eventually settled on a treatment using lasers to blast tumors without the need for surgery. The procedure was a success, with Martin saying he has "no doubt" that Shirlie saved his life.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Roman Kemp makes 'horrendous' admission over huge childhood struggle
The One Show host Roman Kemp has opened up about his childhood and the struggles his mother Shirlie faced when he was growing up, as her fame grew Roman Kemp has opened up about the emotional toll the paparazzi took on his family during his childhood, revealing that his mother Shirlie was often left in tears for days. Martin and Shirlie Kemp, who both shot to fame in the 80s with their respective music careers, experienced the highs and lows of celebrity life. Martin, 63, made his name with the band Spandau Ballet before becoming a household face as Steve Owen in BBC soap EastEnders, while Shirlie, also 63, gained recognition as a backing singer for Wham! before forming Pepsi and Shirlie with Helen DeMacque. Their love story began on Top of the Pops, leading to marriage in 1988 and the birth of their children, Harley Moon, now 35, and Roman, 32. Roman reminisced about the challenges of growing up in the public eye, with constant media attention and witnessing his mother's distress over the intrusive paparazzi, reports Edinburgh Live. In a candid chat with musician Tom Grennan, The One Show host Roman shared memories of him and his sister Harley appearing in national magazines alongside their parents during financially difficult times. He said: "My parents had no money at the time because my dad had all these operations and s*** for his brain, so like they were trying to get more money. Roman opened up about his unconventional childhood as the son of famous parents, Martin Kemp and Shirlie Holliman while speaking on the You About? podcast. He recalled: "But then, even up to when I was maybe 13, if we'd gone on holiday, we were never allowed to go to the beach because when we went on the beach, my mum and dad would always be like 'there it is' and you'd see a boat come past, quite far out, and then like stop and they'd just be a long lens camera just taking pictures of kids on beaches." Roman said his mum would often be left in tears by the paparazzi and the resulting press coverage. "It's mad in that sense, you see it less and less now, like those old celebrity pictures on the beach, you see that a lot less now," he added. "But at the time, my whole life, me growing up, was my mum crying because they're taking horrendous pictures and they'd only use the worst picture." He reflected on a specific incident on the beach where Shirlie was visibly shaken after photographs of them on a banana boat were published. "She cried for like five days," Roman said. Speaking to Hello! Magazine, Martin and Shirlie previously opened up on their feelings about Roman entering the world of showbusiness. Martin said: "Fame is a difficult thing to cope with full stop and you have to get your head around it." "It's something that I worried about with Roman when he was younger, going into the same industry [as us]. It's a difficult thing, but Roman's got his feet on the ground, and I'm really happy for him." Shirlie voiced her worries about the intense "pressure" from social media and the damaging effects of online comments. Roman Kemp, known for his stint as the host of Capital FM's Breakfast Show until 2024 and now a presenter on The One Show, previously discussed the challenges he faces with celebrity status. In an interview with Radio Times Magazine, he confessed: "The only part about fame I find difficult is being known. "When you've got someone coming over to you in the middle of the street, talking to you about suicide – which I've campaigned about – there are days where I would rather not go out because I can't deal with it." Fans can hear Roman Kemp and Tom Grennan's podcast You About? every Tuesday on BBC Sounds.
Edinburgh Live
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Roman Kemp says ‘my whole life growing up was my mum crying' in heartbreaking revelation
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The One Show host Roman Kemp said he often saw his mother Shirlie in tears for days when he was younger, due to her struggles with the paparazzi. Martin and Shirlie Kemp respectively found fame in the 1980s, when they were at the peak of their singing careers. At the time, Martin, 63, was a part of the band Spandau Ballet and later gained more recognition when he played Steve Owen in EastEnders. Shirlie, also 63, rose to fame as backing singer in the group Wham!, and went on become a part of the duo Pepsi & Shirlie along with Helen DeMacque. After the pair crossed paths on Top of the Pops, a romance blossomed and they went on to marry in 1988. A year later, they welcomed their daughter Harley Moon, now 35, into the world followed by Roman, 32. Reflecting on life in the spotlight from a young age, Roman recalled having cameras in his face and seeing his mum in particular struggle with the fame. Sharing some of his memories with singer Tom Grennan, the presenter remembered him and Harley being in national magazines with their parents, at a time when money was tight. "My parents had no money at the time because my dad had all these operations and s**t for his brain, so like they were trying to get more money," he explained. "But, then, even up to when I was maybe 13, if we'd gone on holiday, we were never allowed to go to the beach because when we went on the beach, my mum and dad would always be like 'there it is' and you'd see a boat come past, quite far out, and then like stop and they'd just be a long lens camera just taking pictures of kids on beaches." The 32-year-old went on to say his mum would often be in tears after seeing pictures the paparazzi had taken in the press. "It's mad in that sense, you see it less and less now, like those old celebrity pictures on the beach, you see that a lot less now," he added on the You About? podcast. "But at the time, my whole life, me growing up, was my mum crying because they're taking horrendous pictures and they'd only use the worst picture." Reflecting on a particular moment on the beach, Roman said Shirlie "cried for like five days" when snaps of the family on a banana boat were published in the press. Martin and Shirlie have previously admitted that they worried about their son breaking into the spotlight, following their experiences with fame. He told Hello! Magazine: "Fame is a difficult thing to cope with full stop and you have to get your head around it. "It's something that I worried about with Roman when he was younger, going into the same industry [as us]. "It's a difficult thing, but Roman's got his feet on the ground, and I'm really happy for him." Shirlie also expressed concerns about the "pressure" of social media and how cruel comments could be impactful. Roman, who is best known for presenting the Capital FM Breakfast Show from 2017 to 2024, and currently The One Show, has previously opened up about his struggles with fame. He told Radio Times Magazine: "The only part about fame I find difficult is being known. "When you've got someone coming over to you in the middle of the street, talking to you about suicide – which I've campaigned about – there are days where I would rather not go out because I can't deal with it."
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shirlie Kemp's garden terrace with firepit is the definition of cosy chic
Anyone who follows Shirlie Kempknows that her home is her passion project. The former Wham! dancer and her husband Martin bought a derelict Victorian home, renovated it entirely, and documented their journey on their Instagram account, @maisonnumer9. But their garden is equally stunning and boasts an outdoor terrace that is the definition of cosy chic. One terrace area they have in their garden is located far down their garden just outside the converted pig shed they've affectionately named Piglet. The area, centred in the middle of their sprawling lawn, has been fitted with stylish decking and Shirlie and Martin have erected a pergola which covers the terrace entirely. The pergola by nature is roofless but is covered in flowers making the area even more beautiful. The couple, who married in the late 1980s and are parents to singer Harley Moon and former Capital FM Radio DJ Roman, have also placed two wooden deck chairs outside Piglet and a few steps away they also have a huge firepit – making it perfectly cosy while sitting outside on chilly evenings. The area also has an outdoor dining table and chairs, a bench, plus a barbeque, so when hosting in the summer the family can enjoy al fresco dining. Not only has the main building been a major project for the couple, but the sprawling outdoor area has taken "years" for them to transform, with Shirlie admitting that there's still more to be done before it becomes her dream vision. The outhouse was originally a pig shed that the former popstars were tempted to rip down when they bought their property back in 2021, but instead, the Pepsi & Shirlie singer had a vision to transform it into a separate building in their garden. Piglet is stylish as well as functional. It's clad in wooden panels with black metal-rimmed doors and windows, giving it an overall rustic feel. Inside, the converted outhouse is a floral haven. Shirlie uses the area as her studio and it's naturally filled with workspace areas and is draped from top to bottom in gorgeous foliage. Elsewhere, Shirlie is looking forward to embracing the change of season very soon. Discussing the plans she has for her garden on Instagram she said: "It always amazes me that when [you're] out in the garden this time of year when it's freezing, wet and muddy that it will all come back. "I find the winters so hard but the promise of spring is so exciting. There's so much I'd like to add to the garden but I keep looking back to realise how far we have come."
