Martin Kemp pulls out of gigs at last minute as he's 'forced to make difficult decision'

Martin Kemp has regretfully announced the cancellation of his upcoming gigs, leaving many fans disheartened. The Spandau Ballet legend was forced to make a tough call due to illness, resulting in him withdrawing from performances scheduled for Southsea today and Coventry tomorrow.

These shows were part of his 'Back to the 80s tour' across the UK. The 62-year-old star took to Instagram to apologise to his followers, sharing with his 560,000 fans: "I'm really sorry but I'm going to have to pull out of my show tonight and tomorrow night due to sickness. This was a last resort and not a decision I took lightly. Hope to see you all again in the near future."

He also provided updates on rescheduling: "My show that would have been tonight @thegaietysouthsea is being re-scheduled to the 30th of August and all tickets will be transferred to that date. Please refer to the email that will be sent to the ticket holders shortly for further instructions."

• Read more: BBC Strictly Come Dancing star James Jordan posts cheeky comment asking for 'ironing lady'

• Read more: Dave Myers' wife has three words to describe life without him

Kemp continued with details about the Coventry show: "My show that would have been tomorrow night at @rialtoplaza is being re-scheduled to the 30th of November and all tickets will be transferred to that date. Please refer to the email that will be sent to the ticket holders shortly for further instructions. See you soon, Mx", reports the Express.

The Spandau Ballet legend behind classics like "Gold" and "True," has opted to keep the details of his health under wraps in a recent social media update. On platform X, which was previously known as Twitter, Martin issued an apology saying: "Ah... so sorry about this guys! ! First one in a year! ! Back on it next weekend! ".

Supportive messages from fans flooded in immediately. One expressed disappointment: "Oh I'm in the UK and I wanted to come see you. It can't be... I won't have any more opportunities to travel. I've run out of time."

Another fan sent their regards: "Feel better soon, buddy." A third chimed in with concern: "Health comes first, take care and get well soon."

And a fourth wished him well: "So sorry to hear you are sick Martin, wishing you a speedy recovery." These days, Martin is best known for his TV roles, including his portrayal of Steve Owen in EastEnders between 1998 and 2002. He and his brother Gary also gained acclaim for playing The Krays in the 1990 film.

Currently, he's a familiar face on Celebrity Gogglebox with his son Roman and appeared on The Masked Singer with his wife Shirley as 'Cat and Mouse. '.

Yet for many, Martin will always be synonymous with Spandau Ballet, the band he formed in 1979 with his brother Gary, lead singer Tony Hadley, saxophonist Steve Norman, and drummer John Keeble, achieving numerous chart successes.

The band achieved great success with eight UK top 10 albums and ten UK top 10 hits, but their journey wasn't without its challenges. Their initial hiatus in March 1990, intended for exploring solo projects and acting opportunities, turned into a permanent split after a bitter disagreement.