Martin Kemp Opens Up on Brush with Death and Battle with Brain Tumour
Spandau Ballet legend Martin Kemp has laid bare his darkest days in a gripping podcast chat with his son Roman on F*ck! My Dad Is Martin Kemp. Known for their Celebrity Gogglebox antics, the father-son duo dropped the usual fun to talk about Martin’s 1990s brain tumour diagnosis — a fight that nearly cost him his life.
‘I Spent Two Years Thinking I Was Going to Die’
When Roman asked Martin how much time he thought he had left, the rock star replied bluntly: “10 years, I don’t know!”
Martin opened up about the terrifying uncertainty that gripped him at age 34. “I spent two years of my life thinking I was going to die,” he revealed. The health scare forced him to come face-to-face with mortality far too young.
Life After Death: Embracing Every Moment
The ordeal reshaped Martin’s view on life. He found solace in his incredible experiences with Spandau Ballet and 80s rock fame. “Every day, every year, every month that I’ve lived has been a bonus,” he said, grateful for every precious moment.
Though surgery and radiotherapy saved him, Martin continues to battle epilepsy caused by the tumour treatment, relying on medication to manage his condition.
EastEnders Role Helped Him Rebuild Life
Martin’s health crisis coincided with a daring career move — joining EastEnders as tough guy Steve Owen. Despite warnings from friends and agents that it might ruin his career, Martin grabbed the chance.
“Everybody around me was saying, ‘Don’t do it, don’t do it. It’s going to ruin your career, don’t do it,’” he recalled.
For Martin, the soap role was more than a job — it was a vital step in overcoming his trauma. “When EastEnders was offered to me it was a chance for me to get over it. It was me trying to get my life back together,” he shared.
Catch Martin’s full, emotional story on F*ck! My Dad Is Martin Kemp, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.
