Martin Kemp has shared his perspective on maintaining a long-term marriage, suggesting that time apart is essential. The former Spandau Ballet and EastEnders star, married to Shirlie Kemp since 1988, discussed the topic while promoting his new television series with their son, Roman.
Father-Son Project
The couple's children are Roman, 33, a television presenter, and Harleymoon, 36, a singer. Martin and Roman feature in the Channel 4 series Martin and Roman's Irish Road Trip, which takes them from the north of Ireland to the south, filming across Antrim, Derry-Londonderry, Tyrone, Cork, Dublin, Kildare and Meath.
Asked if he missed his wife and daughter while filming, the 64-year-old told Woman Magazine: "Not really. I was having a week away with Roman and having some father-and-son time and you're allowed to do that, I think that's great for you."
Healthy Separation
He added: "I don't think everything you do as a family you need to all be together. You need to split up and enjoy each other individually every now and again."
Martin continued: "I love spending time with Harley on our own and me and Shirlie spend all our time together. That's a really healthy way to look at it."
Friendship as the Foundation
When asked about the secret to their 38-year marriage, Martin said he could not pinpoint one specific reason, but highlighted "a bedrock of friendship" as key. He said: "If you lose that, if you stop being friends, you lose everything. Shirlie and I are best friends and that's how it works."
Martin and Shirlie first met during their singing careers, when he was in Spandau Ballet and she was a backing singer for Wham! alongside Helen 'Pepsi' DeMacque. Martin previously recalled seeing her on Top of the Pops, telling Mail Online: "I couldn't take my eyes off Shirlie. She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen."
Their first date included George Michael as a chaperone for his Wham! bandmate. Martin recalled: "I was walking down Camden High Street I saw Shirlie standing on the corner and my heart sank because she had brought her mate, and her mate was George Michael. We spent the evening trying to lose him." Despite the awkward start, George Michael remained a close friend until his death in 2016 and was godfather to the couple's two children.
Roman has previously spoken about his parents' marriage, telling The Mirror: "Their strong marriage is something I admire so much. As a teenager it was one of my biggest fears, them splitting up. I never wanted Dad to do Strictly Come Dancing in case the famous curse struck and it broke them up!"
