Tony Hadley Offers Calm, Practical Advice to Ex-Bandmate Martin Kemp as He Faces the Jungle

Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley appeared on Loose Women this week and — putting their long-running band feud to one side — shared some no-nonsense survival tips for Martin Kemp, who has just entered the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! jungle (and is already drawing plenty of attention) (ITV/Loose Women).

Hadley and Kemp rose to fame together in the 1980s as members of Spandau Ballet, a band that later became the centre of well-documented tensions. Tony quit the reunited group in 2017, saying at the time that the “behaviour wasn’t that of friends” and that he “couldn’t do it any longer.” Martin has since admitted he felt “guilty” about how Tony was treated during the band’s earlier years and has reflected in interviews about the culture of banter that sometimes tipped into something darker (The Guardian). Guardian+1

Loose Women: Forget the feud — be yourself in the jungle

When asked on Loose Women what advice he would pass on to Martin — who cannot receive TV messages while in camp — Tony kept his counsel plain and practical. He told the panel that the single most important thing is simply to “be yourself.” What follows is his explanation of why authenticity matters in the jungle:

“You can’t pretend to be that 24/7. It’s really intense in there. People always think, I bet you get a pizza in the evening. But no, you don’t. And when you’re hungry, it’s going to be hard.” (ITV/Loose Women). Facebook

The remark underlines what former contestants often stress: the environment is stripped back and raw, so staying grounded is as important as any tactic for the trials.

Martin is in the jungle (Credit: ITV)

Hadley knows the jungle — and the public scrutiny — first-hand

Tony first experienced camp life himself when he appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2015, so he was well placed to talk about what Martin is likely to face. He also reflected on watching the first episodes of the new series and how quickly the show can ramp up emotionally once the celebrities settle in (ITV/I’m A Celebrity). ITVX+1

A bruised history, but a short, supportive message

While neither man publicly used the interview to settle old scores, Tony’s warm, measured tone — and his decision to avoid re-hashing the feud on air — felt notable given the pair’s past. In recent years, Martin has been open about his lingering remorse over how the band dynamics played out, acknowledging that group humour sometimes “tipped over into bullying” and that he felt guilty for how Tony was treated (The Guardian). Tony, for his part, has been clear that he left because the relationships had become unhealthy (The Guardian). Guardian+1

How fans are reacting and what’s next for Martin

So far, viewers have warmed to Martin’s jungle debut: his son Roman Kemp has been among the show’s loudest supporters on social media, urging fans to back his father in the early days (news coverage). Celebrities with prior camp experience often try to give newcomers perspective rather than hype, and Tony’s succinct message — be authentic, be prepared for discomfort, and look after yourself — follows that tradition (press coverage). The Sun

As the series continues, the cameras and public vote will quickly shape how contestants fare under pressure. For Martin, Tony’s advice to “be yourself” is both a survival tactic and, some might argue, a gentle olive branch from one former bandmate to another.

Sources: coverage and interviews from Loose Women / ITV, retrospective reporting on the Spandau Ballet split and reunions in The Guardian, and background on Tony’s I’m A Celebrity appearance and Martin’s jungle entry from ITV/I’m A Celebrity pages and contemporary entertainment outlets.