The Kemps: All True is television Gold

Long before his son, Celebrity Gogglebox companion and travelling buddy Roman, was born, Martin Kemp was in a pop band. They were quite famous and, according to some, pretty decent.

Formed in Islington in 1979, Spandau Ballet were one of the most successful groups to emerge during the New Romantic era.

The band’s classic line-up features Martin and his brother Gary on bass and guitar respectively, vocalist Tony Hadley, saxophonist Steve Norman, and drummer John Keeble.

Their debut single To Cut a Long Story Short reached No.5 in the UK in 1980, and was the first of 10 top 10 hits, which also included, Gold, Chant No.1, Only When You Leave and their No.1 smash, True.

During the 1980s, they spent 159 weeks on the UK singles chart and have had eight UK top 10 albums, including three greatest-hits compilations and an album of re-recorded material.

Ten years after their formation, following the release of Heart Like a Sky in 1989, Spandau Ballet disbanded, but they have since reformed in various guises (in between a fair bit legal wrangling over songwriting royalties).

Now, fans of the Kemp brothers, who have both gone on to have successful acting careers and as well as musical ones, get the chance to see a side to the siblings they have never seen before.

The Kemps: All True sees comedian and Brian Pern co-creator Rhys Thomas interview the pair, playing a fictional version of themselves, about their lives following Spandau Ballet’s 40th-anniversary celebrations in December 2019.

As well as looking back at their musical and acting careers, the mockumentary sees the Kemps indulge in their other passions.

Martin attempts to launch a new film franchise and Gary markets a new vegan meat-substitute called Wonge.

Perry Benson from Benidorm also features as their brother Ross Kemp, alongside Line of Duty duo Daniel Mays and Anna Maxwell Martin, former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston and The Fast Show’s Simon Day.

Snatch actor Alan Ford and After Life’s Tony Way are also involved, as is Shirlie Holliman, of Pepsi & Shirlie fame, who is of course Martin’s real-life wife.

Gary says: “I’m thrilled that the BBC is making this probing documentary into the lives of my brother and me, and great to be in the delicate yet blood-stained hands of the wonderful Rhys Thomas. Anyone who knows Rhys’s work can expect a little more probing than is usual. Our lawyers await.”

Martin says: “After being known as Roman Kemp’s dad for a few months, I’m really happy to be getting back in the limelight and being known for being that one from Spandau Ballet who hit someone over the head with an ashtray in EastEnders; as well as spending some time with my brothers, Gary and Ross.”

All True is already being compared to the now-notorious one-off documentary After the Screaming Stops about another pair of pop brothers, Bros.

However, in a recent interview with The Times, the brothers made it clear that the mockumentary was not inspired by that film, and in fact, it was written before it.

Gary claims he hasn’t even seen the Bros doc, although Martin has and said: “It’s brilliant. That’s who they are, you know? I know them really well, and that’s who they are.”

Regardless of what the spoof show is or isn’t based on, like the Bros doc, All True should be television Gold.

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