Music and acting legend Martin Kemp has opened up about his deeply personal end-of-life wishes in an emotional conversation with his family before heading into the Australian jungle for I'm A Celebrity.
A Father's Difficult Decision
The Spandau Ballet icon, who rose to fame in the 1980s before starring in The Krays and EastEnders, made his preferences clear during a heartfelt discussion on his joint podcast FFS, My Dad Is Martin Kemp with his 32-year-old son Roman. The revealing episode, which originally aired in February, saw the 64-year-old explain why he wants Roman rather than his 35-year-old daughter Harley to make critical medical decisions if he ever becomes seriously ill.
Martin explained his choice by stating "Because you're a man," before quickly adding that Harley is "more emotional" and that Roman can "block things out more easily." When questioned by his son about whether this sounded sexist, Martin clarified: "It's not whether you're a man or a woman, it's who you are as a personality."
Final Say on Life Support
The True hitmaker went even further, revealing that even if his wife Shirlie Kemp were present during such a difficult medical scenario, he would still want Roman to have the ultimate authority. He told his son: "When it comes to pulling the plug on someone... giving the doctor the wink and saying 'that's enough,' you'll know."
The conversation also touched upon organ donation, with Martin expressing his support for the concept while revealing he cannot donate his own organs due to having contracted Hepatitis A in the past. He explained that "once you've had any form of [hepatitis], I don't think you can do organ donation." Roman echoed his father's approval of organ donation, particularly praising the idea of donating one's brain for medical training purposes.
Facing Mortality With Perspective
Despite the heavy nature of their discussion, Martin reflected on the prospect of his life ending with remarkable calmness. He stated: "Once you're dead, you're dead. You don't know anything that's going on. When I'm gone, and I'm looking back at my body, I'll think 'I had a f*****g great time.'"
This philosophical approach to mortality likely stems from his personal health battles, including being diagnosed with two brain tumours in the 1990s when he was just 34 years old. Martin shared: "I was practically resigned to the fact that I was going to die, but I was quite happy with my lot. Every year that I live, every month that I'm alive is like a bonus."
Now the singer-turned-actor is preparing for another challenge as he enters the Australian jungle for I'm A Celebrity. Martin has been seeking advice from Roman, who finished in third place when he competed on the show in 2019. The EastEnders star revealed that his son's best advice was simply: "Don't take it seriously, just enjoy it."
While Martin admits to feeling nervous about facing bugs and creatures in the challenges, he believes the real test will be being separated from his loved ones. He confessed: "It's an adventure. But I'll miss my family the most." The star joins a celebrity-packed lineup that includes Kelly Brook and YouTuber Angry Ginge as he embarks on this new jungle adventure.
