Soap icon and acclaimed documentarian Ross Kemp has launched a powerful broadside against far-right factions he accuses of stealing England's national flag for their own divisive agenda.
In an exclusive and impassioned interview, the former EastEnders hardman issued a clarion call to his fellow patriots, demanding they take back the St George's Cross from the clutches of extremists who have tarnished its meaning.
A Symbol Tarnished by Extremism
Kemp, renowned for his gritty documentaries investigating the world's most dangerous organisations, expressed deep concern that the flag has become unfairly associated with hatred and bigotry. He argued that this hijacking has forced many well-meaning English citizens to feel uneasy about displaying their own national symbol.
'We have to reclaim our flag,' Kemp stated emphatically. 'It's been hijacked by a small minority... it doesn't belong to them. It belongs to us.'
From Walford to the World's Trouble Spots
The actor's unique perspective is forged in the fiery furnace of Albert Square and hardened on the front lines of global conflict. Having played the beloved Grant Mitchell for decades, Kemp understands the pulse of working-class Britain. Simultaneously, his real-life work embedding with gangs and militias worldwide has given him an intimate view of how symbols are weaponised by extremist groups.
He draws a direct parallel between the appropriation of national emblems by terrorist organisations abroad and the current situation unfolding on England's own shores.
The Fear of Flying the Flag
Kemp pinpointed a palpable anxiety amongst the public, noting that many now think twice before flying the flag during national events like the World Cup for fear of being mislabeled as a far-right sympathiser. This, he contends, is a victory for the extremists and a tragic loss for ordinary, proud Englishmen and women.
The documentary maker's intervention adds a significant celebrity voice to a growing national conversation about identity, belonging, and the battle to define what Englishness means in the modern era.
