Let It Shine judge Martin Kemp says his role in EastEnders in the '90s was crucial to his overcoming depression
Let It Shine judge Martin Kemp has hailed EastEnders and his role as Steve Owen for helping him overcome profound depression in the 1990s.
The Spandau Ballet star, who played Albert Square bad boy Steve Owen between 1998 and 2002, had suffered four years of depression after developing brain tumours.
He told The Mirror's Notebook: “Before I took the role of Steve Owen, I’d been in a terrible depression for four years after having two brain tumours. My brain was left in such a state, if I wanted to walk left I’d turn right.
“I didn’t know what I was capable of, so it was a godsend and it changed the way I was seen.
“Instead of being Martin Kemp, brain tumour - which I hated - I became Martin Kemp from Eastenders.”
Martin was less enthusiastic about his former EastEnders co-stars, who he described as 'moany'.
“Some of these people had the best job in the world, but they moaned about it all the time. I couldn’t stand it. However, EastEnders will always be special to me."
Martin, 55, is currently a judge on BBC1's new singing contest Let It Shine.
