Today, I welcome Shirlie Kemp to the podcast. She was an 80s icon: a backing dancer for Wham! who ACTUALLY APPEARED IN THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'LAST CHRISTMAS', as well as being a best friend to George Michael until his untimely death in 2016 at the age of 53. She was also one-half of the pop duo Pepsi & Shirlie and the wife of Martin Kemp, of Spandau Ballet fame (fun fact: their son, Roman, is the Capital Radio DJ).
Shirlie joins me to talk about what went on behind the scenes of fame and her memories of George, including the last conversation they ever had. She talks about her challenging council estate upbringing, feeling a failure at school and developing an eating disorder in her teens. We also discuss her long journey to self-confidence as a woman and how she and Martin coped with his brain tumour diagnosis in 1995, and what got them through those tough times as a couple. And we touch on the mean photography teacher whose criticism she will NEVER FORGET (but more fool him, because now she's an amazing photographer so there).
Thank you for coming on How To Fail, Shirlie: you are truly the loveliest woman.
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The How To Fail Live tour has now started! I will be at various venues around the UK and Ireland over the next two months, sharing my failure manifesto with the help of some very special guests. Limited tickets left! These events are not recorded as podcasts so the only way to be there is to book tickets via www.faneproductions.com/howtofail
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The Sunday Times Top 5 bestselling book of the podcast, How To Fail: Everything I've Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong by Elizabeth Day, is out now and is available here.
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Shirlie and Martin Kemp are releasing a joint album, In The Swing of It, next month. You can pre-order it here.
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This season of How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is hosted by Elizabeth Day, produced by Naomi Mantin and Chris Sharp and sponsored by Sweaty Betty. Sweaty Betty are offering listeners 20% off full-price items with the code HOWTOFAIL
To contact us, email howtofailpod@gmail.com
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Social Media:
Elizabeth Day @elizabday
Shirlie Kemp @shirliekemp
Sweaty Betty @sweatybetty
SPECIAL EPISODE! How to Fail: Mo Gawdat on how to cope with anxiety in a time of Coronavirus
S7, BONUS EPISODE! How to Fail: Deliciously Ella
S7, Ep8 How to Fail: Frankie Bridge
S7, Ep7 How to Fail: Adam Pearson
S7, Ep6 How to Fail: Marian Keyes
S7, Ep5 How to Fail: Eniola Aluko
S7, Ep4 How to Fail: Tom Kerridge
S7, Ep3 How to Fail: Mabel
S7, Ep2 How to Fail: Malcolm Gladwell
S7, Ep1 How to Fail: Andrew Scott
S6, Ep 8 How to Fail: Jane Garvey
S6, BONUS EPISODE! How to Fail: Lemn Sissay
S6, Ep7 How to Fail: Fearne Cotton
S6, Ep6 How to Fail: George Alagiah
S6, Ep4 How to Fail: Lisa Taddeo
S6, Ep3 How to Fail: Cush Jumbo
S6, Ep2 How to Fail: Alain De Botton
S6, Ep1 How to Fail: Camilla Thurlow
S5 BONUS EPISODE! How to Fail: Philippa Perry and Sadie Jones
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