Roman Kemp Opens Up About Heartbreaking Childhood Memories of Mother Shirlie’s Struggle with Paparazzi
Roman Kemp, the 32-year-old presenter of The One Show, has shared a poignant revelation about his mother Shirlie’s struggles with the paparazzi during his childhood. According to an interview with the Express, Roman recalled the distressing experience of growing up with cameras constantly pointed at him and his family.
Roman’s parents, Martin and Shirlie Kemp, were both prominent figures in the entertainment industry during the 1980s. Martin, now 63, was a member of the popular band Spandau Ballet and later gained fame for his role as Steve Owen in EastEnders. Shirlie, also 63, initially found fame as a backing singer for Wham! before forming the duo Pepsi and Shirlie with Helen DeMacque. The couple met on Top of the Pops, sparking a romance that led to their marriage in 1988.
The family’s exposure to fame from a young age had a profound impact on Roman. In a candid conversation with singer Tom Grennan on the You About? podcast, he shared his experiences of being featured in national magazines alongside his parents and sister during a period when finances were tight. "My parents had no money at the time because my dad had all these operations and s*** for his brain, so like they were trying to get more money," he explained. Roman recalled that even on family holidays, they were often unable to relax due to the constant presence of paparazzi.
The Express reports that Roman described his mother’s distress upon seeing paparazzi photos in the media: "It’s mad in that sense, you see it less and less now, like those old celebrity pictures on the beach, you see that a lot less now," he shared on the podcast. "But at the time, my whole life, me growing up, was my mum crying because they’re taking horrendous pictures and they’d only use the worst picture." Roman recalled a particularly upsetting incident on the beach, where images of their family enjoying a banana boat ride made headlines, leaving his mother "crying for like five days".
Martin and Shirlie have openly expressed their concerns over their son stepping into the limelight, given their own brushes with fame. In an interview with Hello! Magazine, Martin said: "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]. It’s a difficult thing, but Roman’s got his feet on the ground, and I’m really happy for him."
Shirlie also shared her worries about the "pressure" of social media and the potential impact of hurtful comments. Her son Roman, a presenter known for hosting the Capital FM Breakfast Show from 2017 to 2024 and currently The One Show, has previously spoken about his struggles with fame. In an interview with Radio Times Magazine, he said: "The only part about fame I find difficult is being known." Roman confessed that there are days when he would rather stay indoors because he finds it challenging to deal with people approaching him in public, especially when they want to discuss sensitive topics like suicide, which he has campaigned about.
Roman’s new podcast, You About?, co-hosted with Tom Grennan, is available to listen to on BBC Sounds every Tuesday. The Express has learned that Roman’s candid conversation with Tom Grennan provides a unique insight into the challenges of growing up in the public eye and the impact it has on family life.
According to the Express, Roman’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the difficulties that come with fame and the importance of maintaining a sense of normalcy in the face of constant attention. As a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, Roman’s experiences offer a valuable perspective on the challenges of navigating fame and the pressures that come with it.
