Martin Kemp has become the sixth celebrity to leave I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! after spending 20 days in the Australian jungle.
The Spandau Ballet star, 64, was voted out during Thursday night’s episode, landing in the bottom two alongside Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley.
Speaking to hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly after his exit, Mr Kemp reflected on his unexpectedly emotional stint in camp.
“I have dreamt about this moment,” he said. “It’s just a weird trip.”
Martin Kemp was the sixth celebrity to leave I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
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ITV
The former EastEnders actor admitted he had discovered surprising aspects of himself during the series. “I think I learned a lot about myself, about how patient I am, in a way, and also how emotional I am,” he said.
“Every turn, I felt like crying a lot of the time — and it’s quite nice sometimes.”
The moment fans had anticipated came as Mr Kemp crossed the famous bridge to reunite with his wife, Shirlie Holliman, who had flown out to support her husband of 40 years.
Viewers quickly shared their emotional responses online, with one writing: “Martin and Shirlie reuniting” alongside crying emojis.
Martin Kemp found himself in the bottom two alongside Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley
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ITVAnother added: “I knew I would cry when I saw Martin meet up with the love of his life.”
Their son, One Show presenter Roman Kemp, who finished third on the programme in 2019, couldn’t resist a playful dig at his father’s earlier exit.
“Oh noooo,” he joked on X, before following it with a heartfelt message: “Love him and love that some of you have seen a snapshot of the man I aspire to be! We’ve had some great laughs on here. Tom for the win #ImACelebrity.”
Kemp’s departure followed his first major Bushtucker Trial of the series, teaming up with Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson in the Lethal Libraries challenge.
Rapper Aitch later said in the Bush Telegraph that he “expected more from Tom”
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ITVWhile Read Wilson navigated snake-filled bookshelves in search of hidden titles such as The Jungle Book, Mr Kemp sat at a librarian’s desk covered in insects, feeding him clues.
At one point, the Celebs Go Dating star apologised to the reptiles as he moved them aside: “I’m sorry to disturb you.”
The pair earned five out of a possible seven stars — securing meals for the remaining campmates.
However, the reaction back at camp sparked anger among viewers. Rapper Aitch later said in the Bush Telegraph he “expected more from Tom,” while others commented that they still had “loads of rice”.
Fans watching at home accused the campmates of being “ungrateful” and “passive aggressive”.
One viewer wrote: “Aww, poor Martin – didn’t like that reaction! 5/7 is basically 8.5/12 – simmer down with your ‘we’ve always got rice’ passive aggressiveness.” Another said bluntly: “Martin finally doing a trial and they treat him like a c***.”
A third commented: “There’s only 7 of them left. 5/7 is the same as 10/12. What is wrong with them?”
Kemp later admitted in the Bush Telegraph he had been disappointed: “It was a more mixed reaction than I thought.
Kemp crossed the famous bridge to reunite with his wife Shirlie Holliman
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ITV
They had smiles on their faces, but when I heard the words ‘Well we’ve always got rice’ I thought ‘ugh’. That kind of summed it up a little bit.”
Fans rallied behind the duo online, with one writing: “Well done Martin and Tom. Take no notice of those whingers. Trials have been too easy this year anyway.” Another posted simply: “5/7 is good you ungrateful lot.”
Despite the tensions, Kemp left camp on good terms and backed his former EastEnders co-star Shona McGarty to win, describing her as “the most beautiful songbird ever”.