Martin Kemp, the beloved actor and Spandau Ballet star, was overcome with emotion during a heartfelt conversation with his son, Roman Kemp, revealing a pivotal family moment that changed the course of his life.
A Father's Faithful Letter
Speaking on Roman's 'You About?' podcast, the 64-year-old star recounted the story of a letter written by his father, Frank Kemp. This letter was the key that unlocked Martin's future in showbusiness. At just 17 years old, Martin was working as an apprentice compositor in print, a role that bound him to a five-year commitment.
He explained to Roman that he couldn't simply leave his apprenticeship to pursue his dream of being in a band. It was his father who intervened, writing a letter to the manager. Martin recalled the letter's poignant words: "Dear sir. You have to excuse Martin from his apprenticeship. Will you release him early because he wants to be.... a rockstar?"
The Power of Parental Belief
For Martin, this act was about more than just getting out of a contract. He told his son that it represented his father's profound faith in him and his desire to give him a chance, rather than seeing him "nailed down in place."
During the podcast, Martin's voice wavered with emotion as he shared a new realisation about this cherished memory. "Do you know, I think there was a big bit of my dad that wanted it to come true," he said, visibly moved. He added that while he has told the story many times, its significance continues to resonate, especially remembering that "when my dad wrote me that letter we had nothing."
Remembering Lost Parents
This isn't the first time Martin has spoken publicly about the profound impact of his parents. He faced the devastating loss of both his mother and father in 2009, a tragedy that saw his mother pass away just two days after his father.
In an earlier interview this year with The Mail's Love Sunday magazine, Martin reflected on keeping their memories alive. He shared a touching story about his wife, Shirlie, buying him a camera that could play old family tapes. "I was watching them back through this little lens on the camera with my eye up against it crying my eyes out," he admitted. "It brought back so many of the beautiful memories. That's the power of capturing these moments. It's something that mustn't be taken for granted."
Martin, who is also a father to daughter Harleymoon Kemp with wife Shirlie, is currently competing in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, which airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
