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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

  

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Martin Kemp, actor and musician, was surprised by Michael Aspel while filming a scene for the BBC television soap opera EastEnders at the BBC Elstree Studios.

Martin began acting as a child, appearing in the BBC's Jackanory and the acclaimed drama Glittering Prizes. Following a short stint as an apprentice at a print works, he became a roadie for his brother Gary's band before joining the lineup as a bass player. The band relaunched as Spandau Ballet in 1979 and had enormous success throughout the New Romantics phase of the 1980s with several top ten hits, including True, Only When You Leave and Gold.

After the band split in 1989, Martin returned to acting, appearing with his brother Gary in the British crime film, The Krays. After successfully recovering from two brain tumours, Martin joined the BBC soap opera Eastenders in 1998 as tough guy Steve Owen.

programme details...

• Edition No: 1028
• Subject No: 1003
• Broadcast date: Sat 13 Nov 1999
• Broadcast time: 6.45-7.15pm
• Recorded: Thu 28 Oct 1999
• Repeated: Mon 5 Jun 2000 8.30pm
• Venue: BBC Television Centre
• Series: 40
• Edition: 3
• Code name: Petrol

on the guest list...

• Pepsi DeMacque
• Harvey - daughter
• Roman - son
• Shirlie - wife
• Finlay - nephew
• Gary - brother
• cast members of Eastenders
• Shaun Williamson
• Todd Carty
• Patsy Palmer
• Eileen - mother
• Frank - father
• Engin Eshrev
• Paul Beasley
• George Bailey
• Steve Dagger
• Robert Elms
• Steve Strange
• Midge Ure
• Bob Geldof
• Derek Webster
• Joe Absolom
• John Taylor
• George Michael
Filmed tributes:
• Anna Scher
• Tony Hadley
• John Keeble
• Geri Halliwell
• Billie Whitelaw

related appearances...

• The Night of 1000 Lives - Jan 2000
• Todd Carty - Nov 2000
• Midge Ure - Mar 2001
• Shaun Williamson - Oct 2001

production team...

• Researcher: Steven Lappin
• Writer: Ian Brown
• Director: John Gorman
• Associate Producer: Helen Gordon-Smith
• Executive Producer: John Longley
• Series Producer: Jack Crawshaw
• Producer: Sue Green

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Top of the Pops

charting the pop stars

East End Life

Albert Square's finest

The Night of 1000 Lives

a celebration of a thousand editions

Timeline

the show's fifty year history

Biggest night of all for the big red book

Press coverage for The Night of 1000 Lives

Todd Carty

Midge Ure

Shaun Williamson

Screenshots of Martin Kemp This Is Your Life