Martin Kemp breaks his silence, revealing the heart-stopping wedding-night moment that shaped 37 years of marriage — a quiet promise that still guides every choice he makes for the woman he loves

 A Wedding on a Clifftop — and a Miracle Hours Later

As campmates compared their marriage stories, Martin casually dropped a bombshell:
He and Shirlie Holliman, 63, escaped to St Lucia in 1988 and exchanged vows on a clifftop overlooking the Caribbean — with only three people in attendance.

Laughing at how simple the ceremony was, he joked:
“Honestly, if you looked too closely, you’d probably discover we’re not actually married!”

But what happened later that night left the camp roaring with laughter.

Martin revealed that before the wedding, the couple had been trying to have a baby but struggled because Shirlie suffered from endometriosis.

Then came his perfectly timed punchline:
“And then on the night we got married — kaboom!”

Lisa Riley clapped her hands, shouting, “Meant to be!”

 “She’s my everything.”

In the Bush Telegraph, Martin turned emotional, admitting the foundation of their marriage wasn’t glamour, fame, or even romance.

“It’s friendship,” he said softly. “Shirlie is everything for me. Everything I do in my life… I do it for her.”

The camp was touched. Viewers were touched. And social media lit up with admiration for the Kemp’s enduring love

 The Love Story George Michael Helped Create

Martin also revealed that the reason he and Shirlie even spoke in the first place was because of George Michael, who played unexpected matchmaker.

Martin had first seen Shirlie performing as part of Pepsi & Shirlie on Top of the Pops in 1982 and was instantly captivated.

“I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” he said.

But when he finally approached her at a VIP screening weeks later, she didn’t call him back for three full weeks.

Shirlie later admitted she was intimidated — he was a pop star, handsome, famous, and she feared he’d be “too much.”

George Michael eventually grabbed the number and dialled it for her, shoving the phone in her hand.
Martin’s mum answered. Shirlie nervously asked: “Is Martin there, please?”
And from that slightly awkward beginning, a 37-year marriage was born.

Their first date?
Shirlie brought a chaperone — George Michael again.
Martin laughed: “We spent the whole night trying to lose him.”

 A Family Born From That Wedding Night

Exactly one year after their Caribbean wedding, their daughter Harley Moon arrived in 1989, followed by their son Roman Kemp in 1993.

The couple have remained one of Britain’s most loved showbiz partnerships ever since.

 And then — the James Bond bombshell

As if the night didn’t already deliver enough surprises, Martin casually mentioned something that sent viewers spiraling:

He was once in the running to play James Bond, meeting directly with Barbara Broccoli — before the role eventually went to Pierce Brosnan.

Kelly Brook was stunned:
“He would’ve been perfect — tall, blue eyes, charisma. He’s got it all!”

Fans on X (Twitter) agreed, flooding timelines with messages like:

• “Martin Kemp would’ve been the sexiest Bond.”
• “I’d have watched every Bond film if he was in it.”
• “Top-tier Bond, no question.”