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Martin Kemp ‘being driven mad’ by frustrating medical condition

Singer blames years of loud concerts

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Let It Shine judge Martin Kemp has blamed almost 40 years in the music industry for a maddening case of tinnitus.

The former Spandau Ballet star said he now suffers from worse hearing following his years touring global stages in the 1980s.

According to The Daily Mail, he said: “There is a whistling in my ears all the time… During the day I don’t notice it, but as soon as it goes quiet, or I’m in bed, I can hear it… It drives me a bit crazy sometimes.”

Revealing that his brother and bandmate Gary has been left with a similar problem, he said: “I went to have a test because of the tinnitus and was taken aback when the audiologist said that I have hearing loss.”

The 55-year-old added that the issue may be the result of standing in front of towers of “incredibly loud” amplifiers on stage and using in-ear monitors.

But despite his hearing problems, he was still able to join Gary Barlow on the BBC singing show to help pick out a central cast for an upcoming musical based on the career of Take That.

Boy band Five To Five won last night, bagging themselves a year’s contract as stars of the new touring musical-inspired by the boy band’s songs.

AJ Bentley, Curtis T Johns, Nick Carsberg, Sario Solomon and Yazdan Qafouri fought off competition from the two other finalist groups, Nightfall and Drive, to be chosen by a public vote as the winners in the BBC One contest.

Head judge Gary Barlow, who has been developing the musical with former EastEnders star Jack Ryder, told the group: “You know we start work tomorrow morning, right? We go on stage in September in Manchester.”

Gary was joined by former band mates Robbie Williams, Mark Owen and Howard Donald for a performance of their hit The Flood just before the result was announced.

Robbie, who had cancelled guest judging duties because of an illness, still managed to perform but said it was emotional to be back with his old group.

He said: “It was and is very emotional. Proper tears. It’s only because I’m on telly that I’m not welling up. I’ll go back to the dressing room and cry.”

Howard, who welcomed new son Dougie Bear this week, said of his newborn: “He’s doing good, as you can tell by the bags under my eyes he’s not sleeping much.”

Comedian Peter Kay stood in for Robbie on the judging panel, which also included Martin Kemp and Dannii Minogue, and dressed up as X Factor contestant Honey G, calling himself Honey P.

Five To Five sang their way to victory with performances of You Can’t Stop The Beat from musical Hairspray and Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus.

Nick hurt his right leg while performing on stage but danced through the pain on Saturday’s show.


Kaggie Hyland
Editor-in-Chief

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