As Roman Kemp reveals the devastating reason for his Capital FM exit... a look ... trends now
Sometimes a change is as good as the rest, and for Roman Kemp his decision to leave Global Radio and strike out for pastures new couldn't come soon enough.
The affable presenter, 31, relinquished his presenting role with Capital Breakfast in March, ten-years after joining the station as a relative unknown and seven-years after earing his promotion to the coveted early morning slot.
Now a household name with a string of TV and radio credits under his belt, Kemp - the son of Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp and former Wham! backing singer Shirley Holliman - is keen to step away from the spotlight before weighing up his next move, and with good reason.
The presenter was devastated after close friend and colleague Joe Lyons - a Capital FM producer - took his own life in 2020, aged just 31.
Kemp, now the same age as Lyons at the time of his unexpected death, has since admitted the tragedy was a mitigating factor in his decision to leave Capital, where he has since been replaced by Jordan North.
Sometimes a change is as good as the rest, and for Roman Kemp his decision to leave Global Radio and strike out for pastures new couldn't come soon enough
The presenter relinquished his presenting role with Capital Breakfast in March, ten-years after joining the station and seven-years after earing his promotion to the early morning slot
The presenter was devastated after close friend and colleague Joe Lyons (pictured) - a Capital FM producer - took his own life in 2020, aged just 31
But the death of his close friend and the subsequent struggle to comprehend his loss is the latest in a series of emotional hurdles for Kemp.
The presenter has previously discussed his own long-term battle with mental health issues and has tirelessly campaigned for greater social awareness of the issue following Lyons' death.
In 2019 documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, the presenter revealed he'd once contemplated suicide and had been helped by his mother rushing to his side.
Three years later he appeared on Channel 4 show Steph's Packed Lunch to stress the importance of talking about mental health in schools at an early age after experiencing his own difficulties.
He said: 'I’ve had a lot of troubles of my own, I’ve dealt with suicidal thoughts, I’ve been on anti-depressants for 15 years of my life.
'I feel that, sometimes, if my brain gets in a situation where it feels like it’s been beaten up by Mike Tyson, I feel like I’m in a boxing ring and not had one boxing lesson.'
He added: 'Talking about mental health needs to start earlier than when we get to 16 and we’re doing PSHE.
'It has to be engrained into lessons and it has to be engrained into schools… as early as possible. Understanding that talking is something that can help us.
Kemp, now the same age as Lyons (pictured) at the time of his unexpected death, has since admitted the tragedy was a mitigating factor in his decision to leave Capital
In 2022 Kemp appeared on Channel 4 show Steph's Packed Lunch to stress the importance of talking about mental health in schools at an early age after experiencing his own difficulties
When Kemp discovered his close friend and colleague had died, he went off the air and did not return to Capital Breakfast until the following week
In 2019 documentary Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency, the presenter revealed he'd once contemplated suicide and had been helped by his mother rushing to his side
'It’s about teaching kids and showing kids these are the tools you need so that when you come up against these demons, you’ll be able to knock them out the park, you’ll be able to deal with them, you’ll be able to talk about them.
'Unfortunately, when people reach the age of 16, particularly boys, they make a conscious decision of how much they’re going to let someone in.
'No matter how many chats they have, they’ll always hold something back. It’s about being able to engrain that talking about feelings and looking out for trigger points, looking out for your mates is something that needs to happen in schools from that earlier age.'
Kemp later won praise after presenting BBC Three documentary The Fight For Young Lives, for which he toured schools, youth and treatment centres around the country and visited the Houses of Parliament.
The presenter's love-life has also been fraught with difficulty after a seemingly stable three-year relationship with Swiss neuroscientist Anne-Sophie Fury came to an end at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020.
Kemp was also praised for his moving BBC Three documentary The Fight For Young Lives, for which he toured schools, youth and treatment centres around the country
Incredible: The presenter has campaigned through his social media platforms and documentaries following the passing of his late friend Joe Lyons
The couple - who met on dating app Tinder - had moved in together that January but sources claimed the relationship frayed during lockdown and they 'weren't able to make things work'.
A source told The Sun: 'Roman loved Sophie and things had been going really well for them. But being in lockdown
