Martin Kemp

Martin Kemp is an award-winning actor, Spandau Ballet bassist, EastEnders star, TV personality, film director, broadcaster, and actor.

He rose to fame in the early 1980s as the bassist of the infamous new wave/new-romantic band, Spandau Ballet. Their song, True, became their most successful UK single to date and was their only major hit to reach America.

Martin grew up on camera, appearing on various children’s television shows, such as Dixon of Dock Green (1973) and Jackanory (1972). By the late 1980s, Martin, alongside his brother and bandmate Gary were cast as notorious Kray brothers in the British drama film The Krays (1990), directed by Peter Medak.

The film was a huge success gave Martin the opportunity to move to Hollywood, where he made several films, including Sugar Town (1999) and Monk Dawson (1998).

Booking is easy with Great British Talent. To find out availability and fees for Martin Kemp or any other talent for your corporate event or project, contact our Great British Talent agents via [email protected], or call us on +44 1753 439289.

Alternatively, fill out our talent enquiry form here – we’ll aim to respond within the hour. Our knowledgeable team of experts can handle all aspects of your booking to ensure it runs flawlessly.

Type Of Speaker

After Dinner Celebrity Host Entertainment Event Hosts Musicians & Music Journalists

More About Martin Kemp

Martin Kemp | TV, Film, and Radio

Martin Kemp joined the cast of EastEnders in 1998 as the charismatic but ruthless Steve Owen. Despite only being on the show for a few years, his performance won him many awards, including three TV Quick Awards, five British Soap Awards, and a National Television Award.

He has since appeared in other television dramas including Daddy’s Girl (2002), Serious and Organised (2003), and McDonald and Dodds (2021).

He is also a successful director, having been behind feature films such as Stalker (2011) and Top Dog (2014) for Universal Studios.

His broadcasting success extends to presenting – his most famous series being Martin and Roman’s Weekend Best, co-hosted with his son Roman Kemp. In 2017 he appeared as a judge on the BBC entertainment show Let it Shine.

He is also a popular guest on television programmes including Celebrity Big Brother (2012), The Masked Singer (2023), DNA Journey (2021), I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here (2025).

He has also appeared as a guest presenter for the Saturday morning breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 and has fronted shows for Discovery/Quest and Sky1’s Hits.

Martin Kemp | Writing

Martin is a successful published writer as well, having written several acclaimed books that provide a fascinating insight into his life and his career. These books include:

True: The Autobiography of Martin Kemp (2000) which offered a deeply personal account of his journey from global fame to overcoming life-threatening health challenges.

Shirlie and Martin Kemp: It’s a Love Story (2020) was co-written with his wife Shirlie, and shared the secrets behind their enduring relationship, family life, and experiences in the entertainment industry.

Ticket to the World: My New Music Memoir (2022) is a nostalgic celebration of 80s culture from one man who was in the centre of it all.

In recent years, he has also dipped his toe into the world of novel writing, having as of April 2026, published two thrillers:

– The Game (2023)

– The Fall (2025)

Martin Kemp | Health

Martin is a patron of the British/Irish charity The Encephalitis Society. At the time he was named patron, he confirmed he had had controlled epilepsy since the 1990s as a result of two brain tumours. Following surgery to remove the tumours, he had a protective metal plate implanted between his brain and skull. Whilst unnoticeable, Martin has often joked that he could “never slip quietly through metal-detectors at airports” as the plate would set the alarm off.

Why Book Martin Kemp?

Martin is a highly sought-after corporate booking, often picked for his captivating sense of humour, humility, and insight into the entertainment industry. His story talks of his journey from the highs of musical superstardom and his award-winning television career to the pitfalls of fame and ill health.

He is available for after-dinner speeches, DJ Sets, live event hosting, and presenting.

Martin & Roman Kemp: Father and Son Duo!

Martin is also available for live corporate award hosting with son Roman

Martin Kemp Roman Kemp actor host presenter musician at Great British Speakers

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Eastenders actor and TV presenter host Martin Kemp for your next live event or corporate video. Contact us

Testimonials

I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to you for being such a wonderful celebrity guest. Your presence made the whole day very special and enabled us to achieve greater media interest in our service. We were very moved by the way you reflected on your own experiences and applied that understanding to the services we run. Your opening speech was very thoughtful and thought provoking, your flexibility to interact with the media was impressive and your patience with the guests for photos, poses, signatures etc was immense.
The OakLeaf Group