Roman Kemp was brought to tears during tonight's episode of The One Show as the 2026 Children in Need Challenge Squad was unveiled.
The BBC programme welcomed actors Dominic Cooper, Romola Garai and Keeley Hawes to the sofa, alongside the reveal of the annual fundraising group, made up of people who have previously benefited from Children in Need funding.
Harry's Story
Among this year's four-strong group is 21-year-old Harry, whose pre-recorded segment recounted his experience to hosts Alex Jones and Roman. "When I was six I was diagnosed with a brain tumour and 24 hours later I was on the operating table," he shared. "When I first came home from hospital I had to relearn basic skills."
Harry couldn't walk, and also struggled to eat and speak. He revealed that this caused him to be bullied at school, explaining: "The isolation was really tough. I still struggle mentally with fatigue, balance, coordination."
He said discovering The Brain Tumour Charity was "one of the biggest turning points" for him, adding: "They helped me realise that my brain tumour and disabilities weren't things I needed to hide. They gave me confidence and for the first time, I didn't feel alone."
Roman's Emotional Response
While watching Harry's speech, Roman could be seen wiping away a tear and later gave the youngster a huge round of applause and embraced him. Roman then revealed why Harry's story had resonated so deeply with him, sharing that his own father, the musician Martin Kemp, had experienced a similar situation.
"I saw my dad go through a similar thing," Roman began. "I'm so pleased that the charity helped you learn that people have their hardships and yours is just the start of your story."
Martin Kemp's Experience
Martin, a member of Spandau Ballet, was diagnosed with two brain tumours in the nineties. He has spoken openly about the experience over the years, including during an appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here last year.
"I had two brain tumours removed," Martin shared with his campmates on the ITV reality show. Recounting how he discovered the tumours, he shared: "I was making a show in Canada and I was playing this professor so I go into make-up one day and I have to go put on this bald cap.
"And as they pulled it on I could hear the whole of the make-up wagon go quiet, because you could see this lump on the back of my head but it was skull. It was bone. So it stretched out, and what it was, was the tumour underneath it had been there for about 12 years had run out of space to grow so it started to grow into the skull, into the bone... Within two days I was back home having my head cut open."
The One Show airs weeknights from 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
