Martin Kemp Enters I’m A Celebrity Jungle as Former Bandmate Tony Hadley Offers Advice

Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp joined the I’m A Celebrity jungle this week, and earlier today, his former bandmate Tony Hadley appeared to soften his long-running feud by offering some friendly advice. Martin and Tony rose to fame together in the 1980s as part of the iconic band, and over the years, media reports have highlighted tension behind the scenes (BBC News). Martin has previously expressed feelings of guilt over how Tony was treated by other band members.

The History of Martin Kemp and Tony Hadley’s Feud

Spandau Ballet reunited in 2009, rekindling their musical careers, but by 2017 Tony had announced he was leaving the band for good. Following his departure, Tony insisted he would never return, citing that the dynamics were no longer healthy. Martin admitted that the band members hadn’t always treated Tony perfectly, telling The Guardian: “If you imagine five boys in the playground, there is always going to be one guy that’s going to take the brunt of the jokes” (The Guardian). He clarified that it was not bullying, but acknowledged he felt guilty over the way Tony had been treated during their time together.

Tony himself reflected on his departure, telling The Guardian that the “behaviour wasn’t that of friends” and that he “couldn’t do it any longer” (The Guardian). Despite years of tension, both men have occasionally referenced their time together in interviews, and with Martin now facing the intense challenges of the I’m A Celebrity jungle, the show inevitably brought the band’s history to mind.

Tony Hadley Shares Advice on Surviving I’m A Celebrity

Appearing on Loose Women on November 18, Tony was asked what advice he would give Martin ahead of his jungle experience. “Obviously, you’ve got Martin in there at the moment. Now, he can’t hear any of your advice because they don’t have TVs out there. But if you were going to give him advice on how to survive in the jungle, what would you say?” one host asked (Daily Mail).

Tony paused thoughtfully before offering his reflections. Ignoring past disagreements, he explained: “I think the most important thing is to be yourself. Don’t try to be anybody else. You can’t pretend to be that 24/7. It’s really intense in there. People always think, I bet you get a pizza in the evening. But no, you don’t. And when you’re hungry, it’s going to be hard” (The Sun).

He added that he had been keeping up with the first few episodes of the series: “It’s early days yet. But we have been watching the first couple of episodes.” While he did not explicitly say he was rooting for Martin, or predict how he would fare, it is clear that Tony’s comments were intended to offer encouragement rather than criticism.

Fans and Family Show Support for Martin Kemp

Martin has already garnered a lot of fan support. His son, Roman Kemp, has publicly called for him to take on some of the show’s challenging trials, showing that family encouragement is strong (Mirror). Fans have praised Martin for his courage and good humour, with many noting that he is quickly becoming a fan favourite. Some social media users commented that he has “the right mix of determination and charm” to make it far in the competition (The Independent).

As Martin navigates the trials, fans and media alike will be watching to see if Tony’s advice—focusing on being authentic and mentally prepared—will help him succeed in the jungle. With the combination of celebrity feuds, personal family support, and grueling challenges, this season of I’m A Celebrity is shaping up to be especially dramatic.