**Roman Kemp Opens Up About Watching His Father Martin’s Sex Scenes While Sitting Beside Him**
Roman Kemp, the popular broadcaster and son of Spandau Ballet legend Martin Kemp, has revealed that he has endured the unusual experience of watching his father perform in intimate scenes on television — while sitting right next to him on the sofa. The father-and-son duo, who regularly appear together on Channel 4’s hit show Celebrity Gogglebox, have talked candidly about dealing with potentially awkward TV moments as a family.
Martin Kemp, now 63, is well known not just for his musical career, but also for numerous acting roles, such as his memorable time on EastEnders and his appearance in the 1992 romantic-comedy Daydream Believer. Yet, for Roman, 32, who has effectively grown up with his father’s broad-ranging screen career, seeing his dad in passionate or even dangerous scenes is almost run-of-the-mill.
Speaking during the latest episode of the ‘You About?’ podcast, which he co-hosts with singer Tom Grennan, Roman reflected on how unbothered he is when it comes to seeing his dad’s alter egos in intimate moments. “If there’s a sex scene, then I’m watching it with my dad,” Roman explained frankly. “I’ve watched my dad in sex scenes sitting next to him. That’s weird. But ultimately, we both know it’s just acting.”
Such moments aren’t just limited to romantic encounters. Roman was quick to point out that he’s also had to witness his father’s characters meeting various untimely ends onscreen. The most notable instance came in 2002, when Martin’s infamous EastEnders character, Steve Owen, was killed off in a dramatic car explosion following a high-speed chase. “I’ve seen my dad die in different ways. I’ve seen him have sex with different people,” Roman added, acknowledging the surreal nature of the experience but stressing that his family take it all in their stride because of their understanding of the world of performance.
By contrast, co-host Tom Grennan admitted that he has never discussed the subject of sex with his own father, even in less exposed circumstances. “He’s a Catholic Irishman,” Tom explained, laughing about the cultural differences in openness, “He’d just brush it off — no way are we having that conversation.”
The discussion offers an insight into what it’s like to grow up in the public eye, surrounded by the sometimes bizarre trappings of life in show business. For Roman, these experiences are part and parcel of his close bond with his father but sometimes lead to apprehension during their joint appearances on Celebrity Gogglebox. The show frequently captures celebrities’ off-the-cuff commentary as they watch the week’s most talked-about TV moments, and it’s not uncommon for Martin to deliberately tease Roman.
“I sometimes dread doing Gogglebox because he’s about to say some absolutely horrific stuff to me that I never knew about, just to get a reaction,” Roman admitted. But, he is equally quick to point out that the shared laughter far outweighs any embarrassment. “But we do laugh so much,” he concluded, showing the warmth and humour that has made the Kemps fan favourites amongst viewers.
The pair’s frank openness about family, awkward television moments and the realities of being part of the entertainment industry highlight just how much real life can sometimes compete with fiction for shock value, especially when the family sofa doubles as a front-row seat to both.
Their candid conversations have struck a chord with audiences, shining a light not only on life behind the cameras, but also on the quirky, often humorous dynamics that exist in every family — especially those lived in the public eye.