Roman Kemp has revealed he once cried over Ryan Giggs and almost gave up supporting Arsenal
Roman Kemp is on the latest edition of Celebrity Race Across The World (Image: Photo by Matt Crossick/WWD via Getty Images)
TV and radio star Roman Kemp is involved in the latest edition of Celebrity Race Across The World alongside the likes of broadcaster Anita Rani and actor Dylan Llewellyn. Outside of the bright lights, Kemp is an avid football fan at heart.
Joining him for the journey is his sister and singer-songwriter Harley Moon, who will know all too well about Roman’s love for football. However, there was a time when he was just a boy that he almost gave up supporting Arsenal because of Wales and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.
He was brought up as a Gunner by his father, Martin, formerly of Spandau Ballet. Despite being a lifelong supporter of the club, there was a moment in 1999 when he didn’t want to follow them any more.
In one of the most iconic goals in FA Cup history, Manchester United’s Giggs scored a remarkable solo effort in extra time of the semi-final against Arsenal, knocking them out of the competition.
When asked on Sky Sports’ Football Museum about one football memory he would like to erase, he simply answered: “Ryan Giggs.”
“I can’t even listen to that commentary,” he said. “When that goal went in, it was the first time I ever cried about football, and my dad didn’t speak to me for like three days because I said I’m not supporting Arsenal again.”
Martin Kemp and Roman Kemp(Image: Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Despite this statement to his father, those emotions didn’t last long, and 32-year-old Roman has continued to support the Gunners.
Tonight, he’ll hit our screens once again for Celebrity Race Across The World. It began on the Caribbean Island of Isla Mujeres, and the players will be racing to reach the finish line in Colombia.
Speaking about why he decided to take part in the series, Roman said: “It’s very much 50/50, reasons for wanting to do this. I am very lucky that I do a lot of stuff with my dad, and I think that the reason I do those things is I can’t wait to show my kids or my grandkids what my relationship was like with my dad.
“With this, it’s such a privilege to be able to do something so special with your sister. It’s such a privilege to be able to have that and to also show that to future generations and to share an experience.
“The other side of it is for personal reasons, travelling and seeing new places and seeing different cultures or being in certain experiences has such a great impact on my perspective and what life is about.”
He continued: “I never got the opportunity to do a gap year because I went straight into work at 16. So, the only version of travel that I know has been if I’m booking myself a holiday which, you want to be nice.
“I’ve never stepped foot in a hostel in my life, that has never been me. I’ve gone and seen places, experienced things with television shows, but I’ve never actually done it off my own accord.”
They will be racing a total of 5,900km (3,600 miles) with the finish line at Peninsula de La Guajira – the gateway to South America.
