**Martin Kemp Uncertain Over Legality of His Caribbean Wedding to Shirlie Holliman**
Martin Kemp, renowned for his role in the iconic band Spandau Ballet and celebrated for his time on BBC’s EastEnders, has raised eyebrows after revealing he never received official documentation for his marriage to Shirlie Holliman, the former backing singer of Wham!. The 63-year-old musician and actor shared these intriguing details during a candid discussion on ITV’s *Good Morning Britain*, prompting questions about the legal status of his decades-long partnership.
Kemp opened up about his wedding in the picturesque surroundings of St Lucia, recalling a romantic but surprisingly brief ceremony. “Shirlie and I, we got married in St Lucia on a cliff top overlooking the Caribbean and it was beautiful,” he reminisced, painting a vivid picture of an idyllic tropical wedding. However, the ceremony’s brevity and informality led him to question its official standing, especially as no marriage certificate has ever been received.
Describing the exchange of vows, Kemp highlighted the speed with which proceedings took place. “There was one lady there, the ceremony was about as quick as, ‘Martin, do you love Shirlie?’, ‘yes’, ‘Shirlie, do you love Martin?’, ‘yes’, ‘you’re married’,” he explained to presenters. Despite the lack of paperwork, Kemp expressed little concern about technicalities, suggesting that genuine commitment matters more than legal formalities. “We’ve never got the actual paper to say that we’re married, but listen, who needs a piece of paper when you love each other,” he asserted, demonstrating the couple’s relaxed and affectionate outlook.
This revelation adds an unexpected twist to the public’s perception of the couple, who have been admired for their enduring relationship since marrying in 1988. Questions now swirl about the legitimacy of ceremonies conducted overseas and the importance placed on official documents versus personal vows.
Kemp’s appearance on the morning programme delved beyond personal life, touching also on the experiences of raising his son, Roman Kemp, who has made his own name as a popular television and radio presenter. The father and son have recently shared screen time on Channel 4’s *Celebrity Gogglebox*, much to the delight of viewers.
One humorous moment from the show was brought up during the interview, centring on an anecdote about Kemp’s less-than-conventional culinary skills. Roman teased his father about once disguising peanut butter in a classic spaghetti bolognese dish. When asked by the ITV hosts if the tale was true, Kemp admitted with a laugh, “Yeah, I did it once, but Roman wouldn’t eat anything when he was a kid, he wouldn’t even eat fruit, so don’t listen to that.” He went on to mention the joys of appearing on *Gogglebox* with Roman: “I love doing Gogglebox, I love it with him. First of all, I get to see him, right? And we get round my house, because, you know what boys are like, boys never go home to their parents.”
The segment also offered an opportunity to reflect on Kemp’s distinguished career in music and television. As bass player for Spandau Ballet, he contributed to no fewer than eight UK top 10 albums, with the band reaching number one with both an album and their classic single “True”. Other hits such as “Gold”, “Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)”, and “To Cut A Long Story Short” remain staples of 1980s pop culture.
Despite light-hearted family anecdotes and reminiscences about his successes, Kemp’s story raises important questions about how international marriages are recorded and recognised, particularly in relation to UK law. Couples married abroad are commonly advised to ensure all paperwork is finalised and registered with the relevant authorities to avoid problems in the future. While the Kemps appear unfazed, it is a reminder to others considering exotic overseas weddings to check that all legal boxes are ticked.
For now, the couple’s story seems to reinforce their easy-going approach to love, marriage, and family fame. Whether or not a slip of paper formally binds them, Martin Kemp and Shirlie Holliman continue to be regarded as one of British entertainment’s most enduring partnerships.