EastEnders super-fan George Michael loved peaking at Martin Kemp’s scripts to try to find spoilers for the show.
Spandau Ballet star Martin and his wife Shirlie – who shot to fame with Wham! and later as part of Pepsi & Shirlie – tell The Telegraph’s weekend magazine the Careless Whisper star would go to great lengths to try to find out what was going to happen in future episodes.
“George was a massive ‘EastEnders’ fan,” she shared. “He was obsessed. He would come round to the house and open drawers, snooping about in all the rooms. He’d say, ‘I’m just checking to see if Martin’s left any scripts lying around’.”
Although George never appeared in the show, before Martin left in 2002 he paid a secret tribute to his pal after the singer gave him a blue jumper and asked him to wear it on the soap
“He said it was his way of getting a walk-on part,” revealed Martin. “I didn’t mention it to anyone, but I wore it in a scene (under a tracksuit) and George was delighted.”
The late Faith hitmaker who passed away in 2016, was a close family friend to the pair and was even godfather to the couple’s son, Roman.
He also famously helped Spandau Ballet star Martin land his role as gangster Steve Owen by asking actress Michelle Collins to arrange a meeting with the producer.
Martin and Shirlie will open up on their relationship with George and more and they share the story behind their life, careers and relationship in It’s A Love Story – out October 29th. Get your copy here.