Martin Kemp has said he had to pinch himself shooting Birds Of A Feather because he was having so much fun with old school pals Linda Robson, Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph.
The Spandau Ballet star has recently filmed a cameo in the ITV sitcom, and admitted he loved trying out comedy with his old Anna Scher Children’s Theatre drama club classmates, after years of playing the hardman.
Martin said: “It was great fun. They were childhood friends, we all went to Anna Scher together, and I’ve seen them since at different things, but we hadn’t really worked together as a team.
Martin Kemp with Lesley Joseph and Linda Robson (ITV)
“It was just nice being on that show. At some points I had to stand back and pinch myself, because it was the first thing I’ve been on for a long time that was actually fun to shoot. A lot of the dramas you do, you’re trying to scrape the scabs off old wounds and dig up horrible memories to make the drama work. But with Birds Of A Feather it was just about getting in there and having fun.
“I absolutely love doing comedy. It’s such a relief to go home laughing at the end of the day.”
The former EastEnders actor played Kray twin Reggie opposite his brother Gary as Ronnie in 1990 film The Krays about the notorious East London gangsters.
Martin and Gary Kemp starred in The Krays in 1990 (Ian West/PA)
Tom Hardy plays both twins in new film Legend and Martin is looking forward to seeing it.
He said: “I’m looking forward to it the same as everybody else. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it works for them.
“Whatever it is it’s going to be very different to the original Krays film that we shot 25 years go now.
“Tom’s a great actor and I’m sure he’ll do it justice. If anyone can do it, he can.”
Massive well done to @RAFMUSEUM – voted the UK's Best Heritage Project in #NLAwards what an amazing place!!! pic.twitter.com/hvNJqjwW3E
— Martin Kemp (@realmartinkemp) September 1, 2015
Martin is an ambassador for The National Lottery Awards and recently surprised the staff at the First World War in the Air exhibition at the RAF Museum in Colindale with the award for UK’s Best Heritage project.
Martin said: “I love old planes, but it’s not just about restored planes. The museum is interactive as well, so it’s not just about whaling around and looking at these beautiful machines, it’s about getting involved as well, which is why it’s been so successful with school trips.”
The National Lottery Awards show, National Lottery Stars 2015, screens on Monday, September 21 on BBC1
