Get to know Greatest Hits Radio presenter Martin Kemp
Join Martin for The Mix Tape every Friday from 7pm
Last updated 2nd Apr 2024
We love having talented actor and musician Martin Kemp as part of our fantastic Greatest Hits Radio presenter line-up. Get ready for the weekend every Friday from 7pm with Martin's hand-picked greatest hits on The Mix Tape with Martin Kemp.
To get you in the mood, here's more about Martin Kemp and The Mix Tape including his favourite tracks and how to listen to the show.
Who is Martin Kemp?
As well as presenting on Greatest Hits Radio, Martin's had an incredible career as bassist in 80s band Spandau Ballet and has had a fantastic acting career too, with a starring role in EastEnders from 1998 to 2002 as Steve Owen.
When is Martin Kemp on Greatest Hits Radio?
Martin Kemp hosts The Mix Tape with Martin Kemp every Friday from 7pm- 10pm on Greatest Hits Radio.
What can listeners expect from The Mix Tape with Martin Kemp?
Martin promises to deliver: "Proper bangers! It’s like the sound of every great Friday night you’ve ever had rolled into one jam-packed playlist. I keep it moving and play loads of songs, get all your shoutouts on the radio, and we have such a laugh.
"I usually tell a few stories from the band, from my time on EastEnders, or what’s been happening to me and my wife Shirley this week. I’ve been accused of making a few jokes at Duran Duran’s expense, but I don’t remember ever doing that."
What music is played on The Mix Tape with Martin Kemp?
Martin describes it as: "The perfect soundtrack to start your weekend. All the biggest songs of the 70s 80s and 90s that we grew up listening to on full volume.
"I’ll give you TV recommendations for your weekend, there’s always a slow dance at the end, and I turn the decks over to you to pick your favourite songs. Plus plenty of stories from my career in music, film and TV. We always have a good laugh and the music is absolutely popping."
What is Martin's favourite thing about presenting his show?
Martin told us: "It’s the messages that make the show. I throw my personal WhatsApp over to you to fill with messages, shoutouts, questions, voice notes, whatever will make us all laugh on a Friday night.
"Summer is normally full of hot tubbers and winter is all about the home bars. But I love all your messages and most of what I do and laugh about on the show is entirely down to you."
How can I get in touch with Martin Kemp?
During The Mix Tape with Martin Kemp you can reach out to him with your shoutouts, requests, and suggestions on WhatsApp on 07938 485858.
What does Martin love about his show on Greatest Hits Radio?
We love having Martin here and thankfully that feeling is mutual! He said: "What’s not to love about the biggest songs of the 70s 80s and 90s, with shoutouts from people loving the tunes from Cornwall to Dover to Dundee to Swansea to Birmingham and everywhere in between.
"I love DJing and when you get it just right, seeing the crowd go bananas to a great song is one of the best feelings. So to be doing it every Friday night to the biggest dancefloor in the UK is a dream come true."
What is Martin Kemp's go-to track to listen to in the car?
Martin joked: "Anything BUT Spandau Ballet! It’s happened before when I’ve got Greatest Hits Radio on and I’ll be recognised at the traffic lights just as 'Gold' comes on the radio and I look like such a twerp."
Laughing, he added: "If I leave it on, it looks like I want everyone to know it’s me… and if I turn it off it looks like I’m shunning the band. It’s literally a lose-lose situation, despite it being one of the best songs ever made."
What is Martin Kemp's favourite Spandau Ballet song?
He told us: "My favourite song was always ‘Through the Barricades', I thought it was the best song Gary ever wrote. It started off as a song about The Troubles but it turned into everyone’s song, and then we turned it into our song when we got back together after 15 years. So that’s always special."
What do the good times sound like to Martin?
Martin had plenty of top music picks, saying: "The sound of the Blitz nightclub, the heady days of 80s excess, 70s glam, Bowie and Siouxsie Sioux, funk and soul, Brothers Johnson, Brothers Kemp (obviously), electronic synth like Gary Numan and Phil Oakey, disco, punk, anything with a big brass band, the King himself Elvis Presley… I mean how long have you got?"
Narrowing it down to one song he said: "Billy Ocean's 'Love Really Hurts Without You'. What a guy. The loveliest man and such a hard-working musician. It took him so long to find success, but he kept at it, he persevered, and he’s written some absolute bangers, this one being the crème de le crème."
LISTEN: Billy Ocean - 'Love Really Hurts Without You'
What is Martin's recommendation for a great driving song?
"If you’re in the car then it’s got to be 'Pull Up The Bumper'," Martin revealed.
He added: "I worked with Grace Jones on a film called Cyber Bandits (don’t Google it) and she was everything you’d expect her to be. Unpredictable, independent, mercurial, impulsive, capricious…just incredible. And what a performer. She’s everything you’d expect her to be, multiplied by a million. So pull up to the bumper, pump up the bass, and get Grace on nice and loud."
How different is presenting on radio compared to TV?
Martin reflected on this and explained: "Totally different, there’s literally no comparison. What you see on TV will have been scripted, researched, checked, debated, tweaked, changed, rehearsed and re-written about 15 times. There are about 50 people in your ear and in your head and if you do something they’re not expecting, you can see the colour drain from everybody’s face!
"But with the radio, it’s just me, a massive playlist of my all-time favourite songs, and the rest comes from you on WhatsApp. A lot of the time when I’m reading your messages on-air, it’s the first time I’ve seen them and they make me crease up. It’s spontaneous and fun and we can do anything, and I get to speak to people every show which is my favourite thing."
Which TV shows has Martin Kemp been on?
As well as being a musician, Martin Kemp has been on a number of TV shows. He has been on The Masked Singer, Celebrity Gogglebox and Celebrity Big Brother but he is best known for his role as Steve Owen on EastEnders.
Speaking about what it was like to be on the popular soap, he said: "Being part of EastEnders was a dream. This iconic show that people have welcomed into their homes and I got to be part of it for three years. Apparently, 17 million people watched Steve and Mel’s wedding on that show and I’m so grateful to be part of it. People still mention Steve Owen to me and nobody ever trusts me if there’s an ashtray in the room."
Where is Martin Kemp now?
As well as presenting on Greatest Hits Radio every week, Martin shared what else he is up to. He told us: "I tour the country with my Ultimate Back To The 80s tour, taking you on an unforgettable journey back to pop music's greatest ever decade. Make sure you come down and sing your heart out, it’s such a great feeling to let your hair down and be free."
Is Martin Kemp on social media?
He is! You can follow Martin Kemp on Instagram or follow Martin on Twitter.
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Greatest Hits Radio presenters
We have a brilliant line-up of presenters who bring you all of the shows and music on Greatest Hits Radio. Find out more about them below.
Ken Bruce
Greatest Hits Radio is the home of the legend that is Ken Bruce, weekdays 10am-1pm - including PopMaster, the UK's biggest music quiz for 25 years and counting.
Find out more about Ken and PopMaster.
Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo hosts Drivetime every weekday at 4pm and The Album Show on Sundays from 1pm.
Simon said of his Drivetime show: "I think the thing about Drivetime is that it is like the flip side of breakfast. You kind of know what an awful lot of people are doing, it's the end of most people's day, they're doing some final bits of work, they're shutting the laptop, they're doing a bit of food preparation, they're driving home. I think it is that sense of camaraderie, it's the end of the day, people want to be cheered up and they want to spend some time with some decent folk on the radio!"
Find out more about Simon Mayo here.
Paul Gambaccini
Paul brings us his famous America's Greatest Hits programme every Saturday between 5pm-7pm, featuring two hours of the Greatest Hits that made it big in America.
Sharing some of the things he loves about his show, Paul said: "Radio is the perfect form of one-to-one communication. TV can be direct, too, but the camera operator is always in your line of vision! I enjoy sharing my favourite music, and my admittedly freakish knowledge of it, with people who care about that music. I love the opportunity for challenging talk overs, too!"
Find out more about Paul Gambaccini here.
Alex Lester
The Dark Lord keeps you company in the small hours. Join him for the Music Marathon from 1am and the Best Time Of The Day Show 4-6am weekdays.
Alex brings: "Your favourite songs. Bizarre insights and unusual thoughts," to his show and told us that he loves that during his show: "It's just the two of us. You and me. (Against the world)."
Find out more about Alex Lester here.
Jenny Powell
Jenny plays the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s on Greatest Hits Radio to kickstart your weekend, every Saturday and Sunday from 6am.
On Jenny's show, listeners can look forward to The Breakfast Club, which she says is: "A warm-up for the weekend, full of positive vibes and feel-good factor when you wake up on Saturdays and Sundays. I insist you have a dance with me on the Kitchen Disco, I share some fun news stories from the previous week on The Headliners and get you smiling no matter what, sharing some of my favourite tracks from the 70s, 80, and 90s."
Find out more about Jenny Powell here.
Andy Crane
Join Andy's late-night community of music and company, Sunday-Thursday at 10pm.
Andy has three hours of the biggest songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s as well as The Top 10 at 10 and Midnight Music Marathon. His show is full of: "Great music and plenty of laughing."
Find out more about Andy Crane here.
Martin Kemp
Join Martin Kemp with The Mix Tape every Friday from 7pm!
Martin has got "the perfect soundtrack to start your weekend," and his show includes: "All the biggest songs of the 70s 80s and 90s that we grew up listening to on full volume. I'll give you TV recommendations for your weekend, there's always a slow dance at the end, and I turn the decks over to you to pick your favourite songs. Plus plenty of stories from my career in music, film and TV. We always have a good laugh and the music is absolutely popping."
Find out more about Martin Kemp here.
Jackie Brambles
Jackie Brambles hosts The Evening Show every Monday to Thursday from 7pm - 10pm.
Jackie promises to deliver: "Great music and great conversations! Every night we're joined by one of your favourite artists of the 70s, 80s and 90s for an in-depth chat about the highs and lows of their careers and their musical influences over the years."
Find out more about Jackie Brambles here.
Kate Thornton
Catch Kate Thornton on Saturdays from 7pm! It's the best night of the week - so if it's a kitchen disco you're after, Kate will make it fun and have you dancing and laughing with her perfect blend of playlist and good times chat.
Kate explained what listeners can expect from her show: "It's the kind of show that lets you know it's Saturday night, no matter where you're listening in from and no matter who you're with. Three hours of songs that make a night in feel like a night out if you're with friends, or offers up the soundtrack for the perfect party for one if you're tuning in alone."
Find out more about Kate Thornton here.
Richard Allinson
Richard Allinson is live on Greatest Hits Radio on Saturday afternoons from 1pm with the perfect Soundtrack of the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s and weekend anthems.
Speaking about his show, Richard said: "The idea is to recreate all those great memories I have of Saturday afternoons growing up, a bunch of us meeting up to buy clothes, records, maybe sort a date…everything happened on a Saturday and we remember the records we played at that time."
Find out more about Richard Allinson here.
Des Paul
Join Des for Rhythm Of The Night every Friday and Saturday night from 10pm, where he plays all the greatest soul, funk, disco and Motown hits to start your weekend.
Des explained what he loves the most about his show: "The favourite bit of presenting Rhythm of the Night is when listeners contact me to say how much they've loved hearing a particular track and then tell us all about when and where they used to hear it."
Find out more about Des Paul here.
Where can I listen to Greatest Hits Radio?
You can find Greatest Hits Radio on your traditional radio, on our website and on our app. Find out more about tuning into Greatest Hits Radio here.
Listen to Greatest Hits Radio on your smart speaker
You can play Greatest Hits Radio through your smart speakers by simply saying: "Play Greatest Hits Radio" to your device.
Get the Greatest Hits Radio app
There is a free Greatest Hits Radio app where you can listen to all of your favourite shows. It is available for Apple devices as well as on Android.
Now read:
Martin Kemp: From Spandau Ballet to star of the screen
The Mix Tape with Martin Kemp: Everything you need to know
Martin Kemp reveals the music that made him 🎶