The Kemps
- TV comedy drama
- BBC Two
- 2020 - 2023
- 2 episodes
Two music documentary spoofs following former Spandau Ballet superstars, siblings Martin and Gary Kemp. Also features Martin Kemp, Rhys Thomas, Perry Benson, Shirlie Kemp and Michael Kitchen
Episode menu
The Kemps: All True
Further details
Music documentary spoof following former Spandau Ballet superstars, siblings Martin and Gary Kemp.
The Kemps: All True sees Rhys Thomas OBE interview the pair about their lives and careers following Spandau Ballet's 40th anniversary celebrations in December.
As part of Spandau Ballet, the pair have sold more than 25 million albums with 23 hit singles worldwide, and in 2011 they received a BMI award after hit single True became one of the most played songs in US history.
As well as looking back at their musical history, the show reveals Gary and Martin's other passions: Martin attempts to launch a new film franchise - The Hardest British Bastards of the Galaxy - and Gary has his own Vegan meat-substitute, Wonge.
Perry Benson features as their brother Ross Kemp (not that one) and there are also guest performances from Simon Day, Lucy Montgomery, Anna Maxwell Martin, Daniel Mays, Alan Ford, Shirlie Holliman, Tony Way, Nick Robinson, Christopher Eccleston and Michael Kitchen.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Sunday 5th July 2020
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 60 minutes
Repeats
Show past repeats
| Date | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 10th December 2023 | 11:35pm | BBC2 |
Cast & crew
| Gary Kemp | Gary |
| Martin Kemp | Martin |
| Rhys Thomas | Rhys |
| Perry Benson | Ross |
| Shirlie Kemp | Shirlie |
| Michael Kitchen | Harvey Stickles |
| Lucy Montgomery | Various |
| Shelley Longworth | President's Wife |
| Tony Way | Rag'n'Bone Man |
| Anna Maxwell Martin | Lorna Kemp |
| Simon Day | Resident at No. 50 |
| Siana Cooper | Receptionist |
| Marissa Rowell | Receptionist |
| Alan Ford | Self |
| Christopher Eccleston | Self |
| Daniel Mays | Self |
| Lucy Hockings | Self |
| Nick Robinson | Self |
| Matt Tebbutt | Self |
| Freddy Bird (as Freddie Bird) | Self |
| Natasha Jayetileke | Actor |
| Guy Pratt | Self |
| Shivi Ramoutar | Self |
| Graeme Sanders | Actor |
| Rhys Thomas | Writer |
| Rhys Thomas | Director |
| Rhys Thomas | Producer |
| Francis Gilson | Producer |
| Ben Caudell | Executive Producer |
| Christopher Bird | Editor |
| Horatia Lawson | Casting Director |
| Neil Barnes | Production Designer |
| Ric Clark | Director of Photography |
| Caroline Sandford-Muir | Director of Photography |
| June Nevin | Costume Designer |
| Susie Munachen | Make-up Designer |
| Natasha Fournel | 1st Assistant Director |
| Alex Moody | Commissioning Editor |
Press
Are Spandau Ballet's Gary and Martin Kemp the anti-Bros? Their mockumentary The Kemps: All True, written and directed by Rhys Thomas, was a knowing nod to the lovably unforgettable, occasionally rather dark, Matt and Luke Goss documentary, Bros: After the Screaming Stops, which taught the world a hard showbiz lesson: never underestimate the stupidity of Bros.
Could the Kemps' attempt at a two-man Spinal Tap be as funny with the protagonists in on the joke? The answer was yes, sprinkled with a few nos. Occasionally the jokes stuttered, and co-stars like Anna Maxwell Martin were wasted. As a vegetarian, I didn't feel offended enough by Gary's Wonge vegetarian food range that was 65% meat. However, the Kemps emerged as great sports, their acting background paid off with solid comic timing, and there was a firm grasp of rock cliches and the mockumentary style: "This is the very first time they've been back to their childhood home since their last documentary three years ago." As a side-note, Martin's film franchise idea "the hardest British bastards in the galaxy" (Daniel Mays as Dick Turpin: "Stand and deliver, you twats!") would probably work as a real pitch, and I deserve a cut for suggesting this.
Barbara Ellen, The Guardian, 12th July 2020The Kemps: All True review
Comedy gold, but how much was really true?
Carol Midgley, The Times, 6th July 2020The Kemps: All True, BBC Two review
pandau Ballet-boys show willing but spoof rock-doc misses the point.
Adam Sweeting, The Arts Desk, 6th July 2020TV review - The Kemps: All True
This really was delightfully ridiculous and gloriously funny material, both of the Kemps were on fantastic form and Thomas assembled a superb supporting cast too, all of whom made this exceptional material consistently hilarious.
Alex Finch, Comedy To Watch, 6th July 2020The Kemps: All True review
Gary and Martin Kemp gleefully send themselves up in this one-off mockumentary - though it's never as funny when celebrities are in on the joke.
Stuart Jeffries, The Guardian, 5th July 2020The Kemps: All True review
Spandau Ballet mockumentary may not be indestructible, but some of it is gold.
Ed Cumming, The Independent, 5th July 2020The Kemps: All True, BBC2, review
A sharp script and bags of humility made for TV gold.
Emily Baker, i Newspaper, 5th July 2020The Kemps: All True, review
The Spandau Ballet bros strike spoof documentary gold.
Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 5th July 2020Tony Hadley hits out at Kemp mockumentary
Spandau Ballet's former frontman Tony Hadley has claimed he wasn't approached to appear in Gary and Martin Kemp's mockumentary The Kemps: All True - and he would have declined the offer.
Cydney Yeates, Metro, 5th July 2020