Shirlie Kemp has confessed to being utterly mortified after her husband, Martin Kemp, shared intimate details of their private life with his fellow campmates on ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.
The 63-year-old pop star, who arrived at Brisbane Airport to support her spouse of 37 years, was left blushing after Sunday night's episode featured Martin engaging in some X-rated campfire chat.
Jungle Confessions Leave Shirlie Blushing
When asked if she felt embarrassed by her husband's revelations, Shirlie did not hold back. "Yes, I have been very embarrassed," she admitted. "Having to go out the next day and everyone at the gym, going: 'Oooh Martin.' But it's all good, I am used to it."
The source of her mortification was Martin's candid discussion about the couple's efforts to conceive before they married. He explained to the camp that they had struggled because Shirlie had endometriosis.
In a moment that will live in reality TV infamy, Martin recalled a piece of unconventional advice from Shirlie's mother, who allegedly asked if they had ever "tried the wheelbarrow." The Spandau Ballet star then proceeded to stand up and demonstrate the sex position to his captivated audience.
Family Reactions and Support
The awkward confession didn't just embarrass Shirlie; it also had a profound effect on their 32-year-old son, Roman Kemp. The radio and television presenter took to social media to voice his horror, sharing a meme of Homer Simpson pouring bleach into his eyes.
His caption read: ‘My dad’s talking about “wheelbarrowing” with my mum.”
Despite the personal revelations, Shirlie confirmed her wholehearted support for Martin's jungle journey. "I am loving it. It’s so funny to see him on the show," she said. She also revealed that Roman, who finished in third place on the show in 2019, has been actively encouraging his followers to vote for his father. "It’s all vote, vote, vote," she added.
There was one story from Martin that Shirlie thoroughly enjoyed hearing. He revealed to his campmates that he was once in the running to play super spy James Bond. "He would have made the best James Bond ever, the most handsome one I think," Shirlie proudly stated.
A Lasting Love Story
Martin has spoken fondly and repeatedly about Shirlie during his time in the jungle. He described their wedding day in St Lucia in 1988, which took place on a clifftop overlooking the Caribbean with just three people present. He even joked that the ceremony was so basic that "if you looked into it more you’d find we’re not married!"
In the Bush Telegraph, Martin offered a heartfelt tribute to his wife, saying, "Shirlie is everything for me, everything I do in my life, I do it for her."
The couple's romance began in the 1980s. They met in 1982 when Shirlie was performing as one half of Wham!’s backing singers, Pepsi and Shirlie, on Top of the Pops. Their relationship has a beautiful connection to the late George Michael, who played a pivotal role in their love story.
Speaking on The One Show in 2020, Martin shared that it was their close friend George, who passed away in 2016, who dialled Martin's number on Shirlie's phone to facilitate their first meeting. Shirlie clarified that while George dialled, she did the talking herself.
The couple are parents to two children: daughter Harleymoon, 36, a country singer, and son Roman, 32, a well-known TV and radio presenter.
