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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Lauren Morris

What is Polari? The secret language Martin Kemp has been praised for speaking

  • I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here 's Tom Read Wilson has revealed that Spandau Ballet 's Martin Kemp can speak Polari, a secret language historically used by the gay community.
  • Polari, a code-like language borrowing from Yiddish, Italian, and Cockney Rhyming Slang, allowed gay individuals to communicate covertly when homosexuality was illegal.
  • Kemp told Read Wilson he learned Polari by listening to the BBC Radio sketch show Round the Horne , which featured characters Julian and Sandy regularly using the language.
  • Speaking on Paul C Brunson’s We Need To Talk podcast, Read Wilson also recounted Kemp's reflections on the New Romantics era and the Blitz club, where there was “no gender” and “no orientation”.
  • Kemp previously spoke about the Blitz club on the ITV show, explaining to his fellow campmates that its accepting environment was “something that I took with me”.

IN FULL

Martin Kemp’s I’m a Celeb co-star praises him for speaking secret gay language

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