Roman Kemp's heartbreaking health battle and plans to quit showbiz for good

Radio presenter and mental health advocate Roman Kemp might be preparing to leave the limelight - and his post-fame plans are hearteningly unselfish.

Known chiefly for his presenting role on Capital breakfast show and as son of 80s iconic band Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp, recently Roman has made significant strides in advocating for mental health awareness.

His commitment to the cause became personal following the suicide of a close friend, Joe Lyons, propelling him to be open about the often-overlooked issue and premiering his own BBC Three documentary titled Roman Kemp: The Fight for Young Lives.

Lyons had been a stalwart at Global Radio for nine years prior to his tragic suicide in August 2020. A devastated Roman courageously used this loss to refocus the conversation around friends' roles in looking out for each other's mental health.

He specifically emphasised the importance of men conversing about their emotions, confessing on This Morning that he was obliviously heartbroken over his friend's struggle. "If I had been [a hero] he would be here", reports the Mirror.

"I want people be a hero to their friend like I know I wasn't to mine. It's OK to look at yourself and think what more could I have done". Having battled depression since adolescence himself, Roman also touched upon how he was advised by his mother to consult with a medical professional when he was just fifteen.

In a candid chat with The Mirror, he shared how Ed Sheeran's words helped him through a tough time: "Ed told me there's dirty water at the top and the more you let it flow it turns into clear water. Each time I speak about how I feel, the water gets clearer."

However, his battles aren't solely with mental health; he's also grappling with a grave physical condition. Last year, the 30-year-old entertainer disclosed his intention to retire from the demanding world of show business within the next five years due to a heartbreaking diagnosis linked to his relentless work rhythm.

The star has been candid about his decision to step back from fame after being diagnosed with sleep apnoea, a serious sleep disorder that interrupts breathing. This condition has forced him to wear an oxygen mask at night.

He explained his situation to Mail Online, highlighting the severity of his fatigue: "My tiredness levels were debilitating, and they said to me it was because of my job and I said this is different. I was talking with people where I thought I was verging on narcolepsy because I was mid-conversation and would be snoring and not realising, it was very strange."

"The doctors told me I must wear an oxygen mask. There is absolutely nothing sexy about going back to Roman Kemp's house."

He then joked: "They are expecting candles and mood lighting but they're getting a Darth Vader impression into an oxygen tank," and quipped that his love life could make a brilliant documentary for the likes of Channel 5.

His plans away from the limelight include becoming a stay-at-home dad and starting a dog sanctuary, as he maintained that fame was never the motivation behind his career choices. Roman Kemp made his last appearance as the host of Capital's breakfast show in March this year, putting his health at the forefront, yet he disclosed that the real turning point was the death of his friend Joe.

Discussing his departure, he explained to the Mirror the reasons behind his decision to leave: "I actually think that a big decision in wanting to do it and wanting to move on and feeling like I need to close this chapter isn't anything to do with radio or the occupation," he expressed, courageously adding: "It's to do with what happened for me. That sounds wild but I mean it, it's not normal, imagine a tragedy happened in your house you're going to want to move."

He further stated: "The bosses at Capital know this and I said it, it's difficult, I went through such a tragic time in that room in that studio, four years on and I've been reliving that same day repeatedly, minus the terrible event."

"For me, I'm quite ready to go 'OK, close that door now, don't keep going back living that horrible day over again. That's sad that obviously affects me but it does. Every day I walk in there and I see Joe, that's a weird thing to do. I think it's going to be really good for me to move on with my life. I had an opportunity in my life, I can go and enjoy my life for a bit and I want to enjoy what I have achieved."

Roman Kemp is still at the helm of BBC's One Show and was also one of the trio who presented this year's Brit Awards. He recently joined stars like Usain Bolt, Bobby Brazier, Tom Grennan, and Alex Booker in Soccer Aid, playing for the World XI team due to his dual nationality he was born in Los Angeles.

Despite his team's 6-3 defeat to England, Roman relishes participating in the charity match which supports Unicef.

Speaking to the Mirror, he expressed his enthusiasm: "It's an amazing time, what it seems on the exterior is this really serious match but it's such a wonderful vibe, everyone is friendly, everyone is happy to be there and it raises so much money, you hear people say it but it's really for a good cause. You see where the money's going and we get to live out our childhood dreams."

He added: "You've got these fully grown men and women that are melting at the fact that we're able to go out in these stadiums with legends and these are the parts of the job of someone that is in the industry, this is the great perk of the job."

In tonight's documentary, Roman explores the potential escalation of the mental health crisis and questions if more support should be provided to young people within their communities. The programme will take viewers on a journey with the presenter as he visits schools, youth centres, and treatment facilities across the nation to engage with experts and charities.

He also makes a trip to the Houses of Parliament to delve into possible solutions for enhancing the mental wellbeing of the UK's youth today.

Roman Kemp: The Fight for Young Lives is available on BBC iPlayer.

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