Martin Kemp says EastEnders saved his life after brain tumour and depression

Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp has credited his role in EastEnders with saving his life as it dragged him out of a deep depression.

The musician, 59, made the move into acting after shooting to fame in the band, starring films such as 1990 gangster movie The Krays, before heading to Albert Square.

He landed the role of bad boy Steven Owen in the BBC soap in 1998, and he's now admitted the job help save from depression that set in after he battled two brain tumours in the 1990s.

Martin underwent a series of operations to save his life, and had a metal plate inserted into his head and he went through a long recovery process.

The actor explained his EastEnders gig was the job that "saved" his life.

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He told The Sun : "When I went into that show, my confidence and my charisma after what I’d been through was on the floor.

"I was still suffering from depression. My brain wasn’t even working properly. If I wanted to walk one way, I’d walk the other.

“I couldn’t remember lines properly. But the character has this incredible confidence and charisma that kind of gave me my life back.

"I spent three and a half years as him and it made me forget about what I’d been through."

Martin as Steve Owen facing off with Phil Mitchell in the Queen Vic (Eastenders February 2002 MARTIN KEMP as Steve and STEVE MCFADDEN as Phil TX:BBC ONE, Thursday February 28, 2002 Steve (Martin Kemp) enjoys winding Phil (Steve McFadden) up, knowing too well that retaliation would cost Phil his custody battle.)

Although Martin’s character was killed in a car explosion in 2002, the actor admitted he had wished Steve hadn't died so he would have the chance to return to the cast.

He added: "There have been times when I wished I’d never got blown up and I was still in one piece so that I could have gone back."

It's unlikely Martin will get the chance to return as Steve's grisly death looked pretty certain, but EastEnders have famously been able to bring characters like Dirty Den and Kathy Beale back from the dead.

Martin now co-hosts an ITV show along with his son, Roman (From Cactus Productions MARTIN AND ROMANS WEEKEND BEST on ITV Pictured : Martin and Roman Kemp Photographer Matt Frost (c) ITV For further information please contact Peter Gray peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is © ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme MARTIN AND ROMANS WEEKEND BEST or ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website https://www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms)

Martin now co-hosts an ITV chat show along with his 28-year-old son, Roman, called Martin & Roman’s Weekend Best!

The singer’s son - who presents his own breakfast show on Capital FM - made a powerful BBC documentary in 2021 about his own mental health issues.

Roman’s Our Silent Emergency covered the suicide of his best friend and radio producer Joe Lyons in August last year.

He too discussed his own struggle with depression and taking antidepressants since his teenage years, as a result of having suicidal thoughts.