Ross Kemp

Ross James Kemp (born 21 July 1964)[2] is an English actor, presenter, author and investigative journalist. He rose to prominence in the role of Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Since 2004, Kemp has received international recognition as a journalist for the BAFTA Award-winning documentary series Ross Kemp on Gangs.

Ross Kemp
Kemp during Extreme World filming in 2015
Born	Ross James Kemp 21 July 1964 Barking, Essex, England
Occupation	Actor Investigative journalist Author Presenter
Years active	1985–present
Spouse(s)	Rebekah Wade ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2009)​ [1] Renee O'Brien ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	4

Acting career

Early career

After training at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, Kemp received his Equity card when appearing alongside John Thaw and Richard Wilson at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea.

He went on to feature in training films for the Ministry of Defence and the ITV soap opera Emmerdale Farm (now Emmerdale) as Graham Lodsworth. Guest appearances in London's Burning and Birds of a Feather followed, before he had a minor role in the 1987 film Playing Away alongside Neil Morrissey.[3]

In 1990 Kemp appeared in an edition of the Anglia Television police drama The Chief. The episode, entitled Call Sign Bravo, saw Kemp play the role of Police Constable Dennis Scovell. Around the same time he also starred in a golf themed advert for Kellogg's Fruit & Fibre cereal.[4]

EastEnders

Kemp's best-known role is that of hardman Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Making his debut in February 1990, his character was often at the centre of major storylines, including abusive marriages to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Tiffany Mitchell (Martine McCutcheon), as well as the "Sharongate" storyline, which saw brother Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) having an affair with Grant's wife.

Kemp announced in April 1999 that he would be leaving the soap later that year after nearly a decade. His exit was aired in October 1999 when his character moved to Brazil after surviving a car crash. Kemp refused to rule out an eventual return to EastEnders, and various media reports over the next few years speculated that he would return to the series at some stage. In early 2005, the BBC confirmed that Kemp would be returning to EastEnders later that year after six years away. It was co-star Barbara Windsor who convinced him to go back for a brief period.[5] His first comeback lasted just a few weeks from the late autumn of 2005, but he returned for a period of three months in 2006, before departing once again in June that year.

Kemp has won various awards for his portrayal of Grant.[6]

In January 2016 it was confirmed that Kemp would make a brief return to the show for the death of Grant's on-screen mother, Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), appearing in three episodes from 13 to 17 May.[7] He later filmed a further three weeks and returned again for brief stints from 4 July to 9 September 2016.

Other roles

Following his initial departure from EastEnders, Kemp moved from the BBC to ITV for a reported £1.2 million two-year deal.[8] Kemp's first role for ITV was in Hero of the Hour. During its filming, on 27 October 1999, Kemp required hospital treatment after being shot in the face when a stunt went wrong. He suffered cuts to his chest and face after safety glass shattered, and was also hit in the face by the discharge from a blank round. He was treated at the scene by paramedics, and made a full recovery.

He also starred as the lead in ITV's Christmas edition of A Christmas Carol. He took the lead roles in the television series Without Motive and In Defence in 2000, and in 2002's Ultimate Force, where he played Army Staff sergeant Henry Garvie from the British Special Air Service. He continued to appear in this role until 2006. He also played "Cirra" in the 2004 TV film, Spartacus.

In 2005, Kemp appeared in an episode of BBC's Extras and in a two-part adaptation of the Gerald Seymour novel A Line in the Sand for ITV. He has also presented on The Friday Night Project and appeared as a stand in host on The Paul O'Grady Show (2007, 2008).

Kemp appeared in the 4th episode of Series 14 of BBC's motoring show Top Gear. He was the "Man in Boot" of a Renault Twingo Sport being tested by Jeremy Clarkson. The test ended with Clarkson driving the car off the quayside of Belfast Harbour, after which Clarkson joked that Kemp had been killed.[9] Kemp also appeared in Series 1 where he did a 1 minute 54 seconds (wet) in the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment.

Investigative journalist

In 2004 Kemp filmed Ross Kemp on Gangs.[10] He followed this up with the documentaries Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, Ross Kemp in Search of Pirates, Ross Kemp: Battle for the Amazon and Ross Kemp: Extreme World.

Writing

Kemp has written several books. Initially focusing on tie-ins to his various TV documentaries, 2011 saw the publication of his first fictional story, Devil to Pay. A novel, Moving Target, was released in summer 2012.

Politics

In 1999, Kemp was elected as Rector of the University of Glasgow. He stood against five nominees as the candidate of the Glasgow University Labour Club.[11] However, he didn't attend local meetings,[12] In October 2000 the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council passed a motion requesting him to resign,[13] and within weeks he did.[14] Kemp was the first rector in 50 years to leave the position prematurely and was succeeded by Scottish actor Greg Hemphill.[12][15]

In August 2014, Kemp was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[16]

In June 2017, Kemp endorsed the Labour Party at the 2017 UK general election, and took part in campaigning for Labour candidates.[17][18][19]

Personal life

Kemp's mother Jean was a hairdresser and his father John was a Detective Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police Service. His maternal great-grandfather was a sub-organist at Chichester Cathedral for many years. He has one brother, Darren, who is a filmmaker for the BBC. Kemp attended Shenfield High School and the Webber Douglas Academy.[20]

On 11 June 2002, Kemp married Rebekah Wade, the then editor of The Sun. In November 2005, Wade was arrested following an alleged assault on her husband.[21] Kemp refused medical attention for a swollen lip and no action was taken.[22] In March 2009 Kemp and Wade divorced, and in October 2010, Kemp fathered a boy with his partner, Nicola Coleman, who was his makeup artist.[23]

Kemp married Australian Renee O'Brien in 2012.[24] They have three children.

Awards

Year	Group	Award	Won	Film/television series
1996	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actor	Nominated	EastEnders
1997	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actor	Nominated	EastEnders
1999	British Soap Awards	Best Actor	Won	EastEnders
	British Soap Awards	Villain of the Year	Nominated
	British Soap Awards	Best Storyline (for Tiffany discovers Grants affair with her mum)	Won
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Actor	Won
	Inside Soap Awards	Villain of the Year	Nominated
	TV Quick and Choice Awards	Best Soap Actor	Won
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actor	Nominated
2006	British Soap Awards	Best Actor	Won	EastEnders
	British Soap Awards	Best Storyline (for The Mitchells' Return)	Nominated
	British Soap Awards	Spectacular Scene of the year (for Phil's Close Shave)	Nominated
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Actor	Nominated
	Inside Soap Awards	Sexiest Male	Nominated
	Inside Soap Awards	Best Storyline (for The Mitchells' Return)	Nominated
	TV Quick and Choice Awards	Best Soap Actor	Nominated
	TV Quick and Choice Awards	Best Soap Storyline (for The Mitchells' Return)	Nominated
	National Television Awards	Most Popular Actor	Nominated
2006	BAFTA Awards	Best Factual Series	Won	Ross Kemp on Gangs
2008	AIB Media Excellence Awards	International TV Personality	Won	Ross Kemp in Afghanistan
2009	BAFTA Awards	Best Factual Series	Nominated	Ross Kemp in Afghanistan
2009	BAFTA Awards	Current Affairs	Nominated	Ross Kemp: A Kenya Special
2014	Asian Media Awards	Best Investigation[25]	Won	Extreme World: India

Filmography

Television

Year	Show	Role	Notes
1985–1986	Emmerdale	Graham Lodsworth	32 episodes
1987	The Moneymen	Dealer	TV Movie
1988	London's Burning	Liver Salts	Episode: "Series 1, Episode 3"
1989	Birds of a Feather	Detective Inspector Monk	Episode: "Shift"
	Screen Two	Police Officer	Episode: "The Picnic"
1990	The Chief	PC Dennis Scovell	Episodes: "Daydreamer" & "Call Sign Bravo"
	The Manageress	Defender	Episode: "A Match for Anyone"
1990–1999, 2005–2006, 2016	EastEnders	Grant Mitchell	1,089 episodes
1993	Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time		Part Two
1998	EastEnders: The Mitchells – Naked Truths		VHS special
	City Central	Dilly Dally	Episode: "Nothing Like a Dame"
2000	Hero of the Hour	Richie Liddle	TV Movie
	In Defence	Sam Lucas	4 episodes
	A Christmas Carol	Eddie Scrooge	TV Movie
2000–2001	Without Motive	DC Jack Mowbray	12 episodes
2002–2006	Ultimate Force	Staff Sgt. Henry 'Henno' Garvie	21 episodes
2003	The Crooked Man	Harry Fielding	TV Movie
2004	Spartacus	Cinna	TV Movie
	A Line in the Sand	Gavin Hughes / Frank Parry	2 episodes
2005	Extras	Himself	Episode: "Ross Kemp & Vinnie Jones"
2007	Robbie the Reindeer	Trooper No. 2	Episode: "Close Encounters of the Herd Kind"
2009	10 Minute Tales	Liam	Episode: "The Running of the Deer"
	Top Gear	Man in Boot	Episode: "Series 14, Episode 4"
2011	That Sunday Night Show	Himself
2017	All Round to Mrs Brown's	Himself

Factual

Year	Show	Channel	Notes
1999	Ross Kemp: Alive in Alaska	BBC One
2004–2009	Ross Kemp on Gangs	Sky One	Series 1—4; 20 episodes
2008–2012	Ross Kemp in Afghanistan		Series 1—4; 18 episodes
2009	Ross Kemp in Search of Pirates		3 episodes
	Ross Kemp: Behind the Story		3 episodes
2010	Ross Kemp: Battle for the Amazon		2 episodes
2011–2017	Ross Kemp: Extreme World		Series 1—6; 36 episodes
2016	Ross Kemp's Britain		3 episodes
2017	Ross Kemp Behind Bars: Inside Barlinnie	ITV
2018	Ross Kemp & the Armed Police
2019	Welcome to HMP Belmarsh with Ross Kemp		2 episodes
2020	Ross Kemp: On The NHS Frontline	ITV	2 episodes
2020	The Millennium Dome Heist with Ross Kemp	ITV

Films

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1987	Playing Away	Sonny
2011	Quick Slip Me a Bride	Trevor

Stage

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2018	Ross Kemp Extreme Tales Live	Himself	Dates: 6, 10 and 14 February

References

1. "Ross Kemp granted quickie divorce". Digital Spy. 6 March 2009.
2. "ON THIS DAY: July 21". Swindon Advertiser. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
3. "Ross Kemp – Awards". IMDB.
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMDPgH8ZQGQ&feature=youtu.be&t=1672
5. "Ross Kemp finally lured back to 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. 21 May 2005.
6. "Ross Kemp".
7. "Ross Kemp returning to EastEnders for Barbara Windsor's exit". BBC News. 18 January 2016.
8. "KEMP IN£1.2M ITV DEAL".
9. "Video: Top Gear Season 14 Episode 4". Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
10. "Ross Kemp on Gangs (TV Series 2006– )".
11. O'Hare, Paul (2 February 1999). "Grannie competes with EastEnders hardman for university rector's post". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
12. "Five in the running for rector at Glasgow University". The Herald. Glasgow. 2 February 2001. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
13. "Students want Kemp kicked out". BBC News. 13 October 2000. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
14. "Kemp quits university post". BBC News. United Kingdom. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
15. Belcher, David (2 March 2001). "Greg's university challenge Glasgow's new student rector, funnyman Greg Hemphill, will be taking the role very seriously". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
16. "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories". The Guardian. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
17. "Ross Kemp adds muscle to Labour campaign". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
18. Seddon, Sean (5 June 2017). "See Ross Kemp campaigning for Sunderland Labour candidate ahead of general election". Evening Chronicle. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
19. Allison, David (5 June 2017). "TV star Ross Kemp in Sunderland to back Labour candidate ahead of election". Sunderland Echo. Sunderland. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
20. "Kemp to return to Albert Square". Manchester Evening News. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
21. Laville, Sandra; Wells, Matt; Dodd, Vikram (4 November 2005). "The editor, the actor, the (ex) cabinet minister and a night behind bars". The Guardian. London.
22. "Editor free after Kemp 'assault'". BBC News. 3 November 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2007.
23. "BABY JOY! Former EastEnders star Ross Kemp becomes a dad – now". Nowmagazine.co.uk. 8 November 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
24. Wilson, Benji. "Ross Kemp: confronting danger". Reader's Digest. Reader's Digest. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
25. "Ross Kemp wins Best Investigation award for Extreme World: India - Asian Media Awards". 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014.

External links

• Ross Kemp at IMDb