Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp has given his first candid interview since leaving the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle, revealing the poignant reason viewers saw him undertake fewer of the show's infamous Bushtucker Trials.
A Generous Step Back for the Next Generation
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror from a five-star hotel, the 63-year-old musician and actor explained his conscious decision to let his younger campmates take centre stage. Kemp stated he is at a stage where he is "slowing down a little bit" and viewed the experience as a chance for others.
"The other guys are at the beginning. Why not give them a chance and time and put them in front of the queue," he said. "I did the whole helicopter thing and the big trials at the beginning, but I just felt the young guys were chomping at it. Let them do it, and it can do brilliant things for their career."
He confirmed this generous mindset was "absolutely" why he chose to step back from the spotlight during the three-week stint in the Australian rainforest.
Emotional Reunion with Wife Shirlie After 37 Years of Marriage
Kemp also opened up about the emotional moment he was reunited with his wife of 37 years, Shirlie Holliman. He admitted that being apart from her was one of the hardest things he has ever done.
After dreaming of the moment for weeks, seeing her at the end of the famous jungle bridge left him elated. "She told me she loved me…..but that I needed a bath," he laughed, recalling her first words. "It was something I was dying to hear. It meant more than it has done for years."
True to form, Kemp followed her advice immediately. "The first shower was brilliant, and being able to take down your pants without anyone looking was superb," he joked, adding he had reeked of campfire smoke.
Family Dynamics and Shared Memories
The star described his profound connection with Shirlie, emphasising how difficult it was to not share his daily jungle experiences with her. "I don't see me and Shirlie as separate people. I see us as one," he said. "Every day, we talk to each other... the first thing you do is you phone your partner."
His son, Capital FM presenter Roman Kemp—who finished in third place when he competed on the show in 2019—was quick to bring his father back to earth. After a brief "I love you" from Roman, the conversation swiftly turned to the Arsenal football scores.
Martin expressed a father's pride, stating Roman now has bragging rights for outlasting him. "When you're a dad, all you want is for your kids to do better than you," he said. "I'm glad he won."
The interview, conducted on December 5, 2025, offers a rare glimpse into the thoughtful and family-oriented mindset of the jungle veteran following his exit from the hit ITV reality series.
