A Stark Contrast to Her Parents’ Long-Lasting Marriage

Harleymoon Kemp – appearing on Celebrity Race Across The World today (November 16) alongside her brother Roman – has previously spoken with remarkable honesty about her turbulent love life. As the eldest daughter of Martin and Shirlie Kemp, who have been happily married for nearly 40 years (Hello! Magazine), Harleymoon grew up with a clear model of stable and devoted partnership.

However, the singer-songwriter has admitted that her own romantic experiences have been dramatically different. While she has often expressed a desire to find a love story reminiscent of her parents’, she acknowledges her dating life has been filled with far more complications than fairy-tale moments.

Opening Up About Her “Disaster” Dating History

Speaking on the Suddenly Single podcast earlier this year, Harleymoon candidly revealed how challenging her romantic journey has been.
“No one’s ever done anything romantic for me. I can’t think of one thing!” she confessed, before adding: “I’ve walked into some real disasters.”

Among those “disasters” was one relationship that left her completely blindsided. She recalled discovering that one of her former boyfriends had been living a double life during their six months together. According to Harleymoon, the ex not only had a separate girlfriend but also a child — all while maintaining a fake Instagram account to conceal his real identity. Reports from The Independent have noted that similar cases of social-media deception are increasingly common in modern dating, making her story sadly relatable.

She explained how she discovered the truth:
“I suddenly all started to feel weird. Like something’s not right. So I did some digging on Instagram, found the girlfriend, the whole thing.”

Choosing Honesty and Taking Action

Instead of staying silent, Harleymoon decided that the other woman deserved to know.
“I actually messaged the girlfriend and I just said: ‘Look, this is really unfair, we’re both being taken for a ride FYI,’” she shared. “And then I blocked him.”

Her decision mirrors a growing trend, as reported by the BBC, of women supporting each other in uncovering infidelity rather than directing anger toward one another. Harleymoon’s calm, decisive reaction reflects her family’s values — particularly the honesty her parents have always modelled.

How Her Parents’ Relationship Shapes Her Standards

Harleymoon has often spoken about the powerful influence of her parents’ decades-long romance. Martin and Shirlie Kemp, former pop icons in Spandau Ballet and Pepsi & Shirlie, are widely described as one of the UK’s “most devoted celebrity couples” (Hello! Magazine). Their enduring relationship has undoubtedly raised the bar for their children’s expectations of love.

She admits she looks for emotional kindness above glamour or fame.
“The worst thing they can do is name-drop,” she said. “If my family heard me talking like that, they’d be embarrassed. I want someone who is kind, not showing off the second they meet me.”

This comment aligns with previous interviews in which Harleymoon emphasised the importance of authenticity, a trait she says she admires deeply in both her parents.

Martin and Shirlie React to Their Children Not Settling Down Yet

In earlier interviews, Martin and Shirlie have addressed the topic of their children not being married or starting families yet.
“I’m not bothered that they’re not married or have children. I think the world is a scary place. But if my kids get married, I want to be there,” Shirlie told Hello! Magazine.

Martin agreed, adding that although he would love to be a grandfather, he refuses to pressure his children.
“If it happened tomorrow, I would love it, absolutely love it. But I won’t be chasing them – if it happens, it happens. That’s their choice.”

His comments echo sentiments he has expressed in previous interviews with the BBC, emphasising that emotional wellbeing comes first — not societal timelines.

A Future Still Open to Love

Despite the difficulties she has faced, Harleymoon continues to express hope that her own romantic journey will eventually lead her to the same kind of lasting partnership her parents have enjoyed. Her honesty about her dating struggles — and the betrayal she once endured — has resonated with many fans, particularly women who have faced similar experiences in the age of curated social media lives and hidden identities.

As she continues building her career in music and television, Harleymoon says she remains hopeful, grounded, and committed to finding someone who matches the authenticity and kindness she values most — qualities she’s been fortunate to witness first-hand at home.