Martin Kemp and his son Roman earn almost £450,000 for hosting new ITV morning show Sunday Best
HIS band Spandau Ballet struck Gold with their 1983 smash hit and now Martin Kemp is coining it again – alongside his DJ son Roman.
The pair are picking up almost £450,000 for their upcoming ITV daytime series Sunday Best.
A telly insider said: “Martin and Roman are hot properties alone — but as a father-and-son double act, they’re almost priceless.
“When they signed up to present their new show, their management went hard on negotiations and they’ve walked away with a very attractive package.
“There are 22 episodes pencilled in for Martin and Roman so far and for each hour-long show they will be paid £10,000 each.
"The package includes their expenses as well as their base pay but it’s not bad for so little work.
“With the ongoing situation, filming has been up in the air but the deal is done and the lads are looking forward to getting on with the show.”
ITV confirmed the pair would be working together in February, with the show also featuring comedians and games in which Martin and Roman compete against each other.
The pair will also be joined each week by celebrity guests, including some of their famous friends.
Roman said: “Working with my dad is something I love to do.
“We don’t live together any more and I don’t get to see him as often as I used to.
“So I am really excited to be presenting our own chat show on a Sunday morning.
“We will have a real variety of guests on the sofa with us every Sunday and I can’t wait to get started.”
With ITV forking out that much cash, I am expecting big things from these two. But I’m sure they will deliver.
READ ON FOR MORE OF ANDY HALLS' BIZARRE TV COLUMN
Cher a real Hare-raiser
THE course of true love never does run smooth in Hollyoaks, as Mercedes McQueen should know by now.
And Mercedes, played by Jennifer Metcalfe, is in for a shock at her vow renewal ceremony.
Husband Sylver McQeen (David Tag) is surprised by the daughter he never knew existed.
Aspiring hairdresser Cher, played by newcomer Bethany Hare, has unexpectedly tracked down her dad.
But young Cher – who likes to be the life and soul of the party – knows only that her father is a convicted murderer.
And she appears to have more in common with her stepmum than with her dad.
Cher will first be seen on screens in the Hollyoaks spring trailer, which airs tonight on Channel 4 site at 5pm.
Bethany said: “Cher has an attitude but she is also caring and big on family – just like the McQueens.
"She’ll always be there for someone.”
You’d think the couple have had enough surprises after Mercedes’ affair and attempt to kill her love rival Grace (Tamara Wall).
bizbit
TIGER King’s Carole Baskin says the Netflix series on the war between her and Joe Exotic has led to her receiving death threats.
She added: “There’s almost no way to describe the intensity of the feeling of betrayal.”
Matt's daily tempter
MATT Tebbutt today starts his new job hosting Daily Kitchen Live, a spin-off cookery show the Beeb has whisked up for the lockdown.
But the chef admits being stuck indoors has led to him boozing at home in the daytime rather than nipping out for a night-time tipple.
Matt, who took over as host of Saturday Kitchen from James Martin, said: “There is no socialising down the pub any more.
"Lockdown has changed my drinking ability and my timings have gone out the window.
“I look at my watch and it’s 4pm and I am thinking, ‘Great, I can start making dinner and open a bottle of wine!’ Things have all got a bit blurred.”
Let’s hope the blurring doesn’t affect his ability to read the autocue on his new show.
must watch
WHAT? Quiz, ITV, 9pm.
WHY? Dramatisation of the infamous Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? fraud. Matthew Macfadyen plays coughing cheat Charles Ingram and Michael Sheen is host Chris Tarrant.
A tough call of Skripal
THE coronavirus crisis has left the BBC in limbo over when to air new drama The Salisbury Poisonings, which tells the story of the 2018 Novichok poisonings.
Bosses aren’t sure if the story of a silent killer from another country wreaking havoc might alarm viewers.
But its focus on the emergency services and a community coming together to defeat a high-profile threat might prove a morale booster.
A telly insider said: “What’s particularly frustrating for the BBC is that this is one of the big dramas that wrapped before Covid-19 shut down the filming of so many shows.
“They would have relished the chance to show Salisbury because it meant they had something to fill the spring and summer schedules with. But they’re going to have to think long and hard about it.”
The drama, with Rafe Spall and Anne-Marie Duff, tells how former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in the Wiltshire city.
bizbit
CORONATION Street has teamed up with Women’s Aid to help domestic abuse victims during lockdown.
The soap has created videos featuring stars past and present outlining ways in which victims can get help and advice.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]