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Martin Kemp's life from famous family to terrifying chainsaw accident

Martin Kemp is going on a father-son road trip to explore landscapes, mysteries and legends.

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Former Spandau Ballet and EastEnders star Martin Kemp. (Image: GETTY)

Martin Kemp fans want to know everything about the ex-Spandau Ballet star, from his recent chainsaw accident to how late singer George Michael changed his life.

Martin and Romans Irish Road Trip is airing this evening, Monday, August 10, at 8pm, on Channel 4, with the pair travelling around Ireland to find out more about the beautiful landscape and its history.

Originally catapulted to fame as a member of 1980s band Spandau Ballet, Kemp went on to star in EastEnders and now is a regular on Channel 4s Celebrity Gogglebox.

As his new travel docu-series gets set to air, heres everything fans need to know about Martin Kemp away from the spotlight...

Martin Kemp's wife

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Martin Kemp is married to former WHAM! backing singer Shirlie Holliman. (Image: GETTY)

While Martin was touring around the world with Spandau Ballet in the 1980s, his future wife Shirlie Holliman was a backing singer for George Michaels band WHAM!.

And it was while he was in the Im A Celeb jungle last year that Martin shared that the Careless Whisper star was her wingman on their first date.

He also added: I found out later that Shirley wasnt going to ring me [after three weeks of waiting]. And Shirley was hanging out with George and it was George that picked up the phone and dialled the number.

So it was really him who put us together.

Martin and Shirlie went on to get married in an intimate ceremony in 1988 in St Lucia.

Martin Kemps famous son

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Martin Kemp and his son Roman Kemp go on an Irish adventure. (Image: CHANNEL 4)

Martin and Shirlie have two children, country singer Harley Moon and The One Show and radio presenter Roman Kemp.

Martin and Roman are also Celebrity Gogglebox co-stars and travel around Ireland for their new Channel 4 series Martin and Romans Irish Road Trip.

Speaking on the podcast High Performance, Roman said: My dads always been my best mate. Hes always validated every emotion that Ive ever felt. Hes always looking for the better in people. Always. Im so lucky that hes like that.

Hes always been someone Ive been so proud of so its never been a case of like, Ive got mates who dont want to attach their surname to them and pretend they've got a different surname because theyve got famous parents.

Im so lucky that the two people Im most proud of in this life are my parents.

Martin Kemps health

The 64-year-old has had a number of health battles over the years, including being diagnosed with two benign brain tumours found at the back of his head in 1995.

The larger one near his skull was successfully removed and a protective titanium-alloy metal plate surgically implanted.

Meanwhile, the second tumour was cleared via a non-invasive 20-minute radiation session.

As a result, he developed a form of spatial and word-jumbling dyslexia which is linked to the brain surgery, as well as lifelong epilepsy which is managed with medication.

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Spandau Ballet members and brothers Gary and Martin Kemp.(Image: GETTY)

This wasnt the only medical discovery that Martin came across as he shared that he had three kidneys on Loose Women.

He explained that he was apparently born with the medical anomaly, while his brother and fellow Spandau Ballet member Gary was born with just one kidney.

I went for an X-ray one day and they were doing a medical and said youve an extra one and I said well, thats my brothers!, Martin joked.

The singer also didnt have much luck at the end of last year when some gardening work at his Hertfordshire home led to him severely injuring his fingers with a chainsaw.

His son Roman said on the You About podcast he was lucky not to lose his hand, before adding: Hes got more than enough dough. Get a professional in, you cant be doing that.

Spandau Ballet

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Spandau Ballet performing in the 1980s.(Image: GETTY)

Spandau Ballet, known for some major 1980s hits including True and Gold, are reportedly in talks for a reunion for a comeback tour.

They last performed together in 2018 without lead singer Tony Hadley who left the group the year prior.

According to Cover Media, a music industry source said that talks had gone better than anyone expected, sharing that it looks like the reunion is on.

They added that a tour announcement is expected very soon.

Martin and Romans Irish Road Trip airs tonight, Monday, August 10, at 8pm, on Channel 4.

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