Roman Kemp Recalls the Emotional Toll of Growing Up with Famous Parents
The One Show presenter Roman Kemp has spoken candidly about the challenges of growing up with famous parents, Martin and Shirlie Kemp. In an interview with Tom Grennan on the You About? podcast, Roman shared his experiences of being in the spotlight from a young age and the emotional toll it took on his family, particularly his mother.
According to the Bristol Post, Roman’s parents, Martin and Shirlie Kemp, both achieved fame in the 1980s with their respective careers in music and television. Martin, 63, was a member of the band Spandau Ballet and later starred as Steve Owen in the BBC soap EastEnders. Shirlie, also 63, began her career as a backing singer for Wham! and later formed the pop duo Pepsi and Shirlie with Helen DeMacque.
Roman, 32, recalled witnessing his mother’s struggles with the media attention that comes with fame. He shared that he became accustomed to cameras being in his face from a young age and appearing in national magazines. However, he revealed that his mother often found it difficult to cope with the constant scrutiny. As the Bristol Post reports, Roman stated: "My parents had no money at the time because my dad had all these operations and s**t for his brain, so like they were trying to get more money… But then, even up to when I was maybe 13, if we’d gone on holiday, we were never allowed to go to the beach because when we went on the beach, my mum and dad would always be like ‘there it is’ and you’d see a boat come past, quite far out, and then like stop and they’d just be a long lens camera just taking pictures of kids on beaches."
The Bristol Post also reported that Roman shared a specific incident where his mother was particularly upset after pictures were published of her and the family having fun on a banana boat. According to Roman, Shirlie "cried for like five days" after the incident. He added that his mother’s distress was often triggered by the publication of photographs taken by paparazzi, which she felt were unfair and intrusive.
Martin and Shirlie have previously expressed concerns about their son stepping into the limelight, given their own experiences with fame. In an interview with Hello! Magazine, Martin stated: "Fame is a difficult thing to cope with full stop and you have to get your head around it. It’s something that I worried about with Roman when he was younger, going into the same industry [as us]." The Bristol Post noted that Shirlie also voiced her concerns about the "pressure" that comes with social media and the significant impact that harsh comments can have.
Roman, who is best known for presenting Capital FM’s Breakfast Show from 2017 to 2024, has previously been candid about his battles with the spotlight. In an interview with Radio Times Magazine, he shared: "The only part about fame I find difficult is being known. When you’ve got someone coming over to you in the middle of the street, talking to you about suicide – which I’ve campaigned about – there are days where I would rather not go out because I can’t deal with it." The Bristol Post confirmed that Roman Kemp and Tom Grennan’s new podcast You About? is available to hear on BBC Sounds every Tuesday.
The challenges faced by Roman and his family highlight the difficulties of growing up in the public eye. As reported by the Bristol Post, Roman’s experiences demonstrate the importance of being aware of the potential impact of fame on mental health and the need for support and understanding.
Roman’s reflections on his childhood and his experiences with fame offer a unique insight into the realities of growing up as a celebrity. His comments also underscore the need for a balanced approach to fame, one that acknowledges both the benefits and the drawbacks of being in the spotlight.
The complexities of fame and its effects on individuals and families are multifaceted and far-reaching. As the Bristol Post reports, Roman Kemp’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human side of fame and the importance of empathy and understanding.
By sharing his story, Roman hopes to raise awareness about the challenges of fame and the importance of maintaining a healthy perspective on life in the public eye. As the Bristol Post noted, Roman’s experiences and reflections offer a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about fame, mental health, and the importance of support and understanding.
