Martin Kemp

Martin Kemp

Martin John Kemp is an English actor, musician and director. He is known as the bassist in the new wave band Spandau Ballet. In 2012, Kemp finished third in the tenth series of Celebrity Big Brother. In 2017 he appeared as a judge on the BBC series Let It Shine.

About Martin Kemp in brief

Summary Martin KempMartin John Kemp is an English actor, musician and director. He is known as the bassist in the new wave band Spandau Ballet and for his role as Steve Owen in EastEnders. In 2012, Kemp finished third in the tenth series of Celebrity Big Brother. In 2017 he appeared as a judge on the BBC series Let It Shine. Kemp is the younger brother of Gary Kemp, who is also an actor and a member of the band. He grew up in north London and attended Central Foundation Boys’ School, Islington. After leaving school at 16, he began an apprenticeship in a print factory but soon became disenchanted. Kemp and his brother Gary returned to acting in 1990, both appearing in the British film The Krays, in which they played the notorious gangster twins Ronald and Reginald Kray. He resumed his acting career in 1998 when he made a guest appearance in the ITV police drama series The Bill.

Kemp won three TV Quick Awards for Best Soap Actor, a National Television Award for Most Popular Actor and five British Soap Awards for his work on Eastenders. He also starred in the short-lived crime drama series Family in 2003. From 2004 to 2007, he starred in a low-budget British film titled Back in Business. Kemp appeared on a celebrity special of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in January 2008 to raise funds for the Encephalitis Society and raise awareness of the disease. In March 2008 he directed a 20-minute short film entitled Karma, which starred his brother and Martin’s wife, Shirlie. The film was released on DVD in January 2009 and one month later was released in cinemas.