I’m A Celebrity saved my life from crippling depression – I struggled hugely when I came out of jungle, says Roman Kemp
ROMAN KEMP brings joy nationwide each morning by waking us up with his Capital Breakfast Show.
But away from the microphone, life isn’t all sunshine and roses — with him crediting ITV for finding him a therapist who “helped to save his life” following his stint on I’m A Celeb in 2019.
Roman, who has just released Are You Really OK? - half self-help book, half memoir - told me: “This image people have of laying down on a long black leather chair, it’s not that.
“Just before I went into I’m A Celeb there was one who was amazing.
She was part of the reason that saved my life and it was ITV and I’m A Celeb who gave me her. I struggled hugely when I came out of there.
“Doing this book has been like therapy. I found myself crying as I retold parts of my life — not parts that were even sad but memories and talking about them.
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“I’ve been on antidepressants since I was 15 and I take them every day. I am very much up and down. I’ve done all sorts of things in terms of therapy.
“If there are times when I have anxiety or panic attacks, I will go to different types of therapists. The psychotherapist was amazing.”
Despite acknowledging his privilege at being the son of Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp and Shirlie from pop duo Pepsi & Shirlie, as well as the godson of the late George Michael, Roman says coping with fame is not enjoyable.
At this month’s National Television Awards, he was all smiles for cameras but the experience terrified him.
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He said: “I kept myself in a car for 20 minutes the other day as I thought I was going to have a panic attack.
“When I’m on stage or on air for four hours it’s incredible – I’m transported to being a kid, but a red carpet is so weird.
“It’s like some weird film but I don’t want to be owned by that. I want my own life.
“My relationship with fame is skewed by growing up as George Michael’s godson.
“I always remember this huge argument between him and my mum — the biggest they had actually.
“Mum said, ‘We are moving to LA,’ and he said, ‘No, that will ruin your kids’.
“He didn’t care about them, he cared about me and my sister, Harley. He was like, ‘Fame and that world is not what they should aspire to’.”
Can host really keep up with the kids?
ROMAN has a reputation as the voice of a new generation among TV and radio hosts but does he really know the first thing about youth culture?
I challenged him in a quiz on the latest Gen Z buzz words, to see if he can connect with under 21s. Here’s how he got on . . .
CHEUGY: “Is that an old person who really isn’t in the know? I have no idea.”
A: The opposite of trendy. Used when someone follows outdated trends.
SITUATIONSHIP: “It’s not officially a relationship but it’s not friends with benefits either. It’s a bit confusing as to what it is.”
A: Closer than a friend but not in a relationship.
GLASTOBATING: “Is that someone who talks about Glastonbury and their experience being the best ever? Particularly to those who have no desire to go. ”
A: Discussing Glastonbury Festival at the expense of all other subjects.
DRIP: “I would say you are dripping in good clothes. I do interview rappers from time to time so I’m in the know.”
A: An extremely fashionable or sexy style.
BUSSIN’: “I think I know it from Aitch, it is an old school way of popping off. It’s vibing, it’s really good.”
A: Used when something was really good.
RENT FREE: “So I live rent free in Spurs fans heads. You are living inside their head. Negative or positive. You are in there. “
A: Meaning you are in someone’s mind - good or bad - and they think about you a lot.
CAUGHT IN 4K: “That’s the new way of saying caught red handed.”
A: When someone has been caught out.
ATE THAT: “Is that like I took that. In terms of someone might say they just got broken up with and they had to just eat that.”
A: If someone ate that they did a good job.
SENDING ME: “I would say it is leading you to an emotion. In a negative context you would say, ‘This person said this and it absolutely sent me and the night was over’.”
A: You would say this when someone or something has really made you laugh.
Sam's brother Liam ready to Conquer
SAM Fender has had two No1 albums – and his big bro is hoping to repeat some of his success.
Liam Fender has today released his debut single Love Will Conquer, with a video filmed in the Fish Quay of his home town North Shields.
He said it is “semi-autobiographical”, as it features actor Jacob Anterton as an aspiring musician playing small gigs to uninterested crowds.
Liam explained: “It’s a story that a lot of people in the North East scene know well, as they slog away, trying to get their music out there and doing the gigs that they have to in order to pay the bills.”
Liam is nine years older than Sam and their dad was a singer too.
He said: “I haven’t chosen to do this – it’s just in my DNA.”
Liam has taken inspiration from Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Nick Cave for his music, which he will perform for the first time at Newcastle’s Riverside on December 8.
Liam, who has been signed to indie label Humble Angel Records, added: “My music’s rooted in where I’m from.
“There’s a distinct sense of a bygone era, but in all that you find real people, real voices and real stories.”
Lowery Casey Pleasey
BY some miracle, Roman’s beloved Arsenal are sitting at the top of the Premier League.
And Roman says a Loose Woman deserves for credit for their success.
He explained: “It’s because of Linda Robson.
“Her son, Louis Dunford, he is a musician who has got a song called North London Forever which is playedevery time at the match.
“When the fans are all together it’s got that vibe. The Emirates is like a different place.
“I saw her the other day and she was like, ‘You know that song, that’s my f***ing boy. Mikel Arteta called our house.
“So we are top of the league because of Linda Robson. The fans are now different and we have unity.
“I sit next to Piers Morgan at the football and I have laughed telling him he has been wrong on Arteta.”
Keen to make the most of the moment and being on top, Roman added: “I don’t want to think about the future. I am someone who cries when we lose.
“When Arsenal lost 3-0 to Tottenham last season I was there. My mate had got me a last minute ticket but didn’t tell me it was in the Spurs end.
“I had to leave at half time and I bumped into Harry Kane not long afterwards and even he laughed at me about it.”
Rihanna's Marvel at premiere
RIHANNA is back with her first solo single in six years – and is looking better than ever.
She wore this sparkly strapless dress at the world premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in LA.
The Marvel movie’s soundtrack features her single Lift Me Up, which is out today, and another new Rihanna song called Born Again.
The We Found Love singer was joined by her boyfriend A$AP Rocky on the red carpet on Wednesday, only five months after she gave birth to their son.
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Director Ryan Coogler feared busy Rih would not be able to record songs for the film, which is out on November 11.
He added: “We were holding out hope that maybe it could work out – and boy, did it.”