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80s GOLD

Who is Martin Kemp’s wife Shirlie Holliman? Mother to Capital FM host Roman

PEPSI & Shirlie came to prominence in the 80s as backing singers for pop megastars WHAM!

Shirlie went on to marry Martin Kemp, who's appearing in the BBC Two mockumentary The Kemps: All Gold on December 29, 2023 — here's what we know about Shirlie's life and career...

 Pepsi & Shirlie were an 80s pop duo
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Pepsi & Shirlie were an 80s pop duoCredit: Rex Features

Who is Shirlie Holliman?

Shirlie Holliman was born April 18, 1962 and is an British pop star.

She joined Wham! after her then boyfriend Andrew Ridgeley suggested she come and dance while he and his friend George Michael's band played a local gig.

Shirlie was a good friend of the late George Michael.

She was even due to have dinner with him on Boxing Day 2016, the day AFTER he died.

The pop icon was discovered dead at his Oxfordshire home on Christmas Day after a long battle against drug and alcohol addition — aged just 53.

When did she marry Martin Kemp?

Shirlie married hunky Spandau Ballet guitarist, bassist and singer Martin Kemp in 1988.

Holliman revealed on Good Morning Britain in August 2017 that it was George Michael who set her up with Martin.

She recalled: “I did fancy Martin, as many girls did. We bumped into him and he gave me his number.”

Shirlie was however too shy to call him, so George took it upon himself to dial Martin’s number and hand it over to her before she got a chance to stop him.

Fortunately Martin was very happy to hear from her and they have been together ever since.

They went on to have two children, daughter Harley and son Roman — who is famed for hosting the Capital Radio Breakfast Show and The One Show, as well as appearing on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

How many kids do Shirlie and Martin have?

The couple have two children, Harley Moon and Roman.

Harley Moon

Harley Moon is their first child, born in 1989

She works as a photographer, director and singer-song writer.

Roman

Roman was born on 28 January 1993.

At the age of 15 he signed a record deal with Universal Music and has since gone on to model for clothing giants Topshop and Asos.

He presents a successful breakfast show on Capital FM between 6am-10am Monday to Friday and 6am-9am on Saturday mornings.

Kemp was a contestant on the nineteenth series of ITV's I'm a Celebrity back in 2019, and came third overall.

In 2023 he became a presenter on BBC stalwart The One Show.

Who are Pepsi & Shirlie?

Pepsi and Shirlie are an 80s pop dup who began as back singers and dancers for George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley band Wham! backing vocalists.

After Wham! split, the girls went out on their own and in 1987, they released their debut single Heartache

which was a smash hit.

They then released their follow-up single Goodbye Stranger, followed by their debut album All Right Now.

In 1991, they returned with the album Change and single Someday, a song produced by George.

Pepsi & Shirlie returned in 2000 to record backing vocals on Geri Halliwell's (now Geri Horner) UK number one hit Bag It Up.

The duo also re-united in 2011 for the Here & Now 10th Anniversary tour.

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