Martin Kemp has revealed intimate details about his 37-year marriage to wife Shirlie Holliman during Sunday’s episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
The 64-year-old former Spandau Ballet musician and EastEnders actor shared candidly with fellow campmates about his wife’s battle with endometriosis, which prevented the couple from conceiving for several years before their 1988 marriage.
During the emotional conversation in the jungle, Mr Kemp disclosed that despite years of attempting to start a family, Ms Holliman’s condition had blocked their chances of pregnancy until a remarkable turn of events on their wedding night in St Lucia.
The musician explained to his campmates his wife had been attempting to fall pregnant for approximately two years before they tied the knot.
Martin Kemp entered the celebrity jungle as part of the launch show for Series 25
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ITVThe singer’s endometriosis diagnosis meant conception remained elusive during this period.
“Shirlie was trying to get pregnant for about a couple of years before we got married. It wasn’t happening because she had endometriosis, so everything was blocked up,” Kemp revealed during the programme.
The condition, which affects roughly 176 million women and girls of reproductive age globally, occurs when tissue resembling the uterine lining develops outside the womb.
This medical issue created significant obstacles for the couple’s family planning aspirations.
Martin’s son, Roman Kemp, was in the jungle in 2019, finishing in third place
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PATheir 1988 ceremony took place on a clifftop in St Lucia overlooking the Caribbean Sea, with just three guests in attendance.
The couple’s fortunes changed dramatically on their wedding night when they finally conceived their first child after years of unsuccessful attempts.
“Then, on the night we got married kaboom,” Kemp told his fellow contestants, describing the moment they discovered they were expecting their daughter Harley Moon.
Fellow campmate Lisa Riley responded to the revelation by declaring it was “Meant to be!”
The timing held particular poignancy given the lengthy struggle with fertility issues that had preceded their nuptials.
Martin Kemp reveled that his wife, Shirlie Holliman, battles with endometriosis
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PA
Their only daughter Harley Moon arrived in 1989, marking the end of their conception difficulties.
The couple subsequently welcomed their son Roman in 1993, completing their family four years after their first child’s birth.
During the heartfelt jungle conversation, Kemp expressed the depth of his devotion to his wife of nearly four decades, making a powerful declaration about their relationship.
“Shirlie is everything for me. Everything I do in my life, I do it for her,” the former pop star told his campmates in Sunday’s episode.
The admission offered viewers a rare glimpse into the couple’s enduring bond, which has spanned nearly four decades since their Caribbean wedding.
Kemp’s words highlighted the central role his wife plays in his life and career decisions.
The emotional revelation came as campmates discussed their relationships, with Vogue Williams mentioning her eight-year marriage to Spencer Matthews, prompting Kemp to share his own marital experiences and the strength of his partnership with the former Wham! backing singer.
The couple’s two children have both established successful careers in their own right.
Martin Kemp and Shirlie Holliman on the red carpet
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PA
Harleymoon, now 36, has pursued a path as a singer-songwriter and built a substantial social media following of 113,000 on Instagram.
She has made various television appearances and recently joined her brother Roman on the third series of Celebrity Race Across The World.
Meanwhile, Roman, 32, has become a prominent figure in British broadcasting.
The presenter gained recognition through his Capital FM breakfast show role from 2017 to 2024 and currently hosts The One Show.
He has also appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with his father and the pair starred together in their own programme, Martin and Roman’s Weekend Best!