As the heart-throb of the 80s pop sensations Spandau Ballet, Martin Kemp was by far the most A-list on this year’s I’m A Celeb.

He was though, also the quietest, which led to him having very little airtime – something which enraged his loyal fans.

Even his son Roman, 32, joked that he was the ‘jungle ghost’ because viewers rarely saw him, while Martin, 64, only went forward for one major Bush Tucker trial on Thursday’s episode alongside Tom Read Wilson, letting the others go up instead.

But now, the hunky singer has revealed that he decided that he wanted to take a back seat so that he could allow the younger contestants to ‘have their moment’ in the Aussie jungle as he was the sixth star to be evicted from the ITV show on Thursday night.

Reflecting on his lack of airtime on the show, which saw him take part in only one major Bushtucker trial, Martin said: ‘I thought, I’m at the end of my career, you know, I’m at a bit where I’m slowing down a little bit.

‘And the other guys are at the beginning, and why not give them the chance and time and put them in front of a queue?

Martin Kemp looked far from disappointed to be the latest celebrity evicted from the jungle as he arrived at a luxury hotel after his I’m A Celebrity departure

The former Spandau Ballet star smiled for the cameras, having shaved off his scraggy jungle beard, after arriving at the swanky Marriott Hotel in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia

‘I just felt, you know, the young guys were jumping up and chomping at the bit and why not let him go? Let him do it and it can do brilliant things for their career.’

His sacrifice has not gone to waste as the youngest camp members AngryGinge, 24, and rapper Aitch, 25, are the two favourites to win the show this year.

Martin has been in the spotlight since rising to fame in Spandau Ballet in the 1980s, before going on to star on hit BBC soap EastEnders as Steve Owen.

Since then, he’s appeared on the likes of Celebrity Big Brother, Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls, and Celebrity Gogglebox alongside son Roman, 32.

But he revealed that after years of living in the spotlight, making new friendships has become a challenge – something he had to face in the jungle.

Martin, who looked comfortable to be out his jungle uniform as he dressed up in a shirt and linen trousers, added: ‘I realise that I’m not very good at making new friends, you know, generally.

‘I think that comes from being in the public eye for getting on over 50 years or something now, I was a 17-year-old kid.

‘But I realised, in the Jungle, that I could and it’s the first time I’ve done it for a long time.’

After 20 days in the jungle, Martin looked pleased to have waved goodbye to the camp

Martin was re-united with wife Shirlie, 63, who had flown out to Australia to greet him

The pop star grew close to the late Ozzy Osbourne’s son, Jack, and the glamour model, Kelly Brook, who was voted off the ITV show two days before him.

He added: ‘I think what you do when you’re in the public eye, you kind of pull up the drawbridge a little bit.

‘When we first spoke about doing it, coming over here and doing it, Shirlie said to me, “You need to go, because you need to learn how to make your friends.”‘

The former Spandau Ballet star smiled for the cameras, having shaved off his scraggy jungle beard, after arriving at the swanky Marriott Hotel in Surfer’s Paradise, Australia, after his exit.

On Thursday, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed that Martin, 64, who was dubbed the ‘jungle ghost’ by his son Roman, would be next to head home after he and Lisa Riley found themselves in the bottom two.

His exit came just hours after he finally left the camp to take part in a Bushtucker trial, after presenter Vogue Williams revealed on a live stream that he was secretly exempt from some of the challenges.

Following 20 days in the jungle, he joined longtime hosts Ant and Dec on the other side of the jungle camp bridge, before heading off to the hotel with wife Shirlie, 63, who had flown out to greet him.

Beaming as he posed outside the hotel, the star revealed how he’d shaven off his jungle beard that had grown over his near three-week stint in camp.

After leaving the jungle, Martin told Ant and Dec: ‘I have dreamt about this moment.

Martin revealed to the Daily Mail he took a backseat on the show to give the younger stars ‘do brilliant things for their careers’ after his jungle exit

Presenter Vogue Williams revealed on a live stream that Martin had been secretly exempt from some of the challenges on the ITV reality competition

Kemp’s son, Roman (pictured) appeared in the 2019 series of the ITV reality show and placed third behind winner Jacqueline Jossa and runner-up Andy Whyment

‘It’s just a weird trip. I loved just sitting around and talking with the others. I said it a few times on there, I’m not one for making new friends and this is the first time I’ve done it in years and I absolutely loved it.

‘Coming out now, I feel like I’ve done everything I want to do, experienced it and I can walk out with some brilliant anecdotes.

‘I wasn’t one of those guys that was dancing and singing and stuff, I just brought a calm energy.’

Following his exit from the show, wife Shirlie took to Instagram with a photo of her and her husband smiling for the camera, writing: ‘And he’s back.’

Kemp’s son, Roman, appeared in the 2019 series of the ITV reality show and placed third behind Jacqueline Jossa, and Martin said he was still ‘glad’ he didn’t beat his son’s placement on the show.

Roman himself was quick to react to his dad’s exit, earlier in the series than him, with a tongue-in-cheek post on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption: ‘Oh noooo.’

But on a sweeter note, he went on to add: ‘Love him and love that some of you have seen a snapshot of the man I aspire to be! We’ve had some great laughs on here. Tom for the win.’

The One Show presenter, 32, was vocal on social media about his father’s time in the Jungle and earlier this week complained about his lack of airtime on the show.

Following his exit from the show, wife Shirlie took to Instagram with a photo of her and her husband smiling for the camera, writing: ‘And he’s back’

Pop star Martin grew close to the late Ozzy Osbourne’s son, Jack, during his time on screen

He took to comparing the eighties pop star as the ‘jungle ghost’ due to his lack of airtime on the show, which has also been noted by fans.

Celebrating his success, Roman said: ‘The Ghost of the Jungle lives another day!’

He added: ‘Imagine we actually got him to go far without ever seeing him! Let’s do it.’

Having second thoughts, he also wrote: ‘I’ll tell you this, if my dad survives tomorrow. I’m going to start the anti-voting campaign. I’m not having him beat my 3rd place. I’d never live it down.’

With the eliminations well underway and the finale in sight, Roman also publicly pointed out Martin’s lack of Bushtucker Trials.

Taking to social media, he wrote: ‘Genuine question, is my dad the only one to have not done an actual trial?’

Fans flooded him with replies, with one pointing out: ‘If it wasn’t for your posts, I’m not sure I would have realised he was on it.’

He also revealed that Martin ‘doesn’t have mates’ and said: ‘One thing I have noticed is my dad keeps saying “my new friends”.

Martin finally left camp to do a trial after it was revealed he was secretly exempt from some trials by co-star Vogue Williams, who left the show earlier this week

‘He genuinely doesn’t have mates so he means it, he’ll be really be chuffed. Again not being mean, that’s the truth.’

While it seemed quite a harsh critique, which was picked up on by viewers, Roman said: ‘We’re pretty open. Also the fact he’s said it on about a million podcasts.’

Earlier in the episode, fans were left stunned when Martin finally left camp to do a trial after Vogue revealed he was secretly exempt.

The Spandau Ballet legend and Celebs Go Dating star Tom, 39, teamed up for the latest challenge, Lethal Libraries.

Following her exit, Vogue claimed Martin was exempt from some as she answered fan’s questions online.

But, while it turns out he was able to participate this week, the lion’s share of the work did go to Tom who was left to rummage through a bookshelf covered with snakes while Martin answered questions.