Radio and television presenter Roman Kemp has spoken candidly about the death of his friend and colleague Joe Lyons, who took his own life in 2020. The 31-year-old Capital Breakfast host was on air when he learned that Lyons, known as Producer Joe, had died. Kemp recalled: 'I found out that he was in his house. I found out that he wasn’t breathing. I found out that he was dead in the space of two to three hours. Yeah, had to keep on broadcasting.'
Kemp, the son of Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp and former Wham! backing singer Shirlie Kemp, has since become an advocate for mental health. In 2021, he presented a BBC Three documentary, 'Our Silent Emergency', investigating the high rate of suicide among young men. He also got a tattoo identical to one Lyons had—a swallow holding a rose—as a tribute. 'I just wanted something on me to look down and make me smile,' Kemp said.
Despite his famous parents, Kemp has built a successful career in radio, growing Capital Breakfast's audience to 2.5 million listeners a week. He is known for his upbeat style and viral interviews, such as asking Keanu Reeves about Joe Wicks and Wickes instead of his film 'John Wick'. Kemp also finished third in 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' in 2019.
Kemp, who has numerous tattoos, described the process as '100% addictive'. He avoids tattoos on his arms and neck for television but has them on his chest and legs. 'Once you go past a certain amount of tattoos, you earn the right to use numbing cream,' he joked.
