Martin and Shirlie Kemp's 34-year marriage from first date with George Michael to famous children

Martin and Shirlie Kemp are back on screens together as they compete in the latest instalment of The Wall. The celebrity edition of Danny Dyer's hit gameshow continues tonight (April 16) on BBC One.

Spandau Ballet bassist Martin, 60, and former Wham! backing singer Shirlie, 59, have one of the longest-standing marriages in showbiz. The pair started dating in 1983 after swapping numbers at an event.

Despite Shirlie not calling for three weeks, the pair eventually managed to organise their first date, however, Martin was surprised to be joined by George Michael, who stepped in as a chaperone for a nervous Shirlie.

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Recalling their first date, ex-EastEnders star Martin previously revealed: "As I was walking down Camden High Street I saw Shirlie standing on the corner and my heart sank because she had brought her mate, and her mate was George Michael. We spent the evening trying to lose him."

Despite the somewhat awkward encounter, the couple remained firm friends with George until the star's tragic death in 2015. The Careless Whisper singer was even godfather to Martin and Shirlie's two children.

They tied the knot in 1988 and welcomed their first child, daughter Harley Moon, the following year. Their second child, Roman, arrived in 1993.

Both of the stars' children have gone on to carve successful careers of their own, with Harley Moon following in her parents' footsteps to become a singer-songwriter. Presenter, model and radio DJ Roman Kemp, meanwhile, is best known for his work on Capital's breakfast show, as well as his stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

More recently, despite Shirlie retiring from music, the duo released their first-ever joint musical project. Their duets album, In the Swing of It, was released in 2019.

They are currently renovating their home, sharing the process on a dedicated house Instagram account (@maisonnumber9). One of their most recent projects saw them transform their lounge into a cosy space featuring warm neutral tones, a log burner and plenty of flowers.

The Wall Versus Celebrities continues on Saturday, April 16 at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

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