Ross Kemp
Encyclopedia
Ross James Kemp is a BAFTA award-winning British
actor
, author and journalist
, who rose to prominence in the role of Grant Mitchell
in the BBC
soap opera
, EastEnders
. Since 2006, Kemp has received international recognition as an investigative journalist
for his critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary series Ross Kemp on Gangs
.
breakfast cereal. His first credited television appearance was in 1986, playing Graham Lodsworth in the ITV
soap opera
Emmerdale Farm (now Emmerdale
). He was infamously thrown off set of Emmerdale after reportedly stubbing his toe on a prop and proceeding to violently attack the prop and claim that all props should be 'burnt alive' . He then ironically made guest appearances in episodes of London's Burning
where he was seen throwing numerous props into the on-set fire, and Birds of a Feather
. He was in a film called Playing Away in 1986 in a minor role alongside Neil Morrissey
.
. Kemp made his debut in February 1990. On-screen, Kemp, as Grant, was often at the centre of EastEnders plots, amongst them abusive marriages to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean
) and Tiffany Mitchell
(Martine McCutcheon
), and the "Sharongate
" storyline, that saw Grant's brother Phil Mitchell
(Steve McFadden
) conduct an affair with his wife.
Kemp announced his departure from the show in April 1999, his last appearance being aired in October 1999 when his character moved to Brazil
. Kemp refused to rule out an eventual return to EastEnders, and various media reports over the next few years speculated that he would be returning to the series. In early 2005, the BBC confirmed that Kemp would be returning to EastEnders later that year after six years away. Kemp joked that he originally auditioned to play the part of Wellard the dog. It was co-star Barbara Windsor
who convinced him to go back for a brief period. His first comeback lasted just a few weeks in 2005, but he returned for a period of three months in 2006, before departing once again in June that year. BBC bosses have left Kemp's role open for a possible future return. Kemp has won various awards for his portrayal of Grant.
In December 2008, Barbara Windsor, Kemp's onscreen mother Peggy publicly called for Kemp to return to the role of Grant. In September 2009, Steve McFadden (Phil) and Danniella Westbrook (Sam), Kemp's onscreen siblings, also expressed their desire to have him back on the show. Kemp has not ruled out returning to the soap again, but he said a return would not be any time soon.
He also starred as the lead in ITV's Christmas edition of A Christmas Carol
. He took the lead roles in the television series, Without Motive and In Defence in 2000, and in 2002's Ultimate Force
, where he took the role of Army Staff sergeant Henry Garvie from the British Special Air Service
. He continued to appear in this role until 2006. He also gained the role of "Cirra" in the 2004 TV film, Spartacus
.
In 2005, Kemp appeared in an episode of BBC's Extras and in a two-part adaptation of the Gerald Seymour
novel A Line In The Sand for ITV, and he has also presented, on The Friday Night Project
and as a stand in host on The Paul O'Grady Show
(2007; 2008).
Ross appeared in the 4th episode of Series 14
of BBC's motoring show Top Gear. He was the "Man in Boot" of a Renault Twingo
Sport being tested by Jeremy Clarkson
. The test ended with Clarkson driving the car off the quayside of Belfast Harbour, after which Clarkson joked that Kemp was killed.
, in which Kemp interviewed gang members around the world, was first broadcast in 2006. The first series featured gangs and police corruption in Brazil
, Māori gangs in New Zealand
, neo-Nazi skinheads in California
, gangsters in London
, and teenagers from Blaenau Gwent
. The second series featured "MS13
" from El Salvador
, neo-Nazis in Russia
, football hooligans in Poland
, American
"Bloods
" and "Crips
" gangs in St. Louis, and the Numbers gang in South Africa
. In May 2007, Ross Kemp on Gangs
was awarded a BAFTA award for factual programming. .
The show returned in September 2008 for four more episodes, starting in the Los Angeles
district of Compton
. A famously hazardous scene was filmed in Compton when gangland junior Matt 'Malicious' Ward misfired his gun in a rival gang's neighbourhood.
The show has also been released on DVD.
In early 2007 Kemp published his experiences from the TV programme in book form, in 'Ross Kemp. Gangs'.
In early 2009, Ross Kemp on Gangs
began airing in the United States on the Investigation Discovery channel under the title "Gang Nation."
broadcast the first episode of a five-part series Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, which entails Kemp following the 1st Battalion of the British Army
's Royal Anglian Regiment
during their deployment to Afghanistan's Helmand Province
from March to August 2007. In preparation for the assignment, Kemp had to participate in military training for personal defence, including use of the SA80
assault rifle. Kemp has a personal interest in the Royal Anglians, as he is from their recruiting area, and his father served with one of the predecessor regiments of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Norfolk Regiment
, in Cyprus. He has since returned to Afghanistan to film a second series of Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, which began its broadcast on Sky One on February 1, 2009, titled Ross Kemp Return to Afghanistan.
broadcast a 2-part documentary on the situation in Gaza
and Israel
. Ross Kemp follows Hamas
to try and get a glimpse at what is sparking the violence between the two nations in some of the most politically fraught places in the world. He also examines the black market importation from Egypt
into Gaza.
, Kemp travelled to areas of the Amazon basin in Brazil and Ecuador, filming the practices of cattle farming, soya bean farming and oil exploration that are causing rapid de-forestation in the region.
started. The show started on Sky1 on Monday 14th November at 9PM.
Ross signed a new 2 year contract with Sky to produce and present 12 hour-long factual programmes for the channel, split over the July 2009 to July 2011 period.
and the Webber Douglas Academy.
On 11 June 2002 Kemp married Rebekah Wade
, the then editor of The Sun. In November 2005 Wade was arrested following an alleged assault on her husband. Kemp refused medical attention for a swollen lip and no action was taken. In March 2009 Kemp and Wade divorce
d, after he admitted to adultery. In October 2010, Kemp became a father to a baby boy with ex-partner Nicola Coleman.
Kemp is a longtime supporter of the Labour Party
. In the 2010 General Election he called on voters to back the party "which cares for everyone in society, not just the privileged few."
as the candidate of the Glasgow University Labour Club
, but resigned in 2001 after the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council
passed a motion requesting him to do so. Ross was succeeded by another actor, Greg Hemphill
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, author and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, who rose to prominence in the role of Grant Mitchell
Grant Mitchell (EastEnders)
Grant Anthony Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. Grant first appeared in 1990, introduced by producer Michael Ferguson to revamp the show. Kemp remained until 1999 when he opted to leave...
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. Since 2006, Kemp has received international recognition as an investigative journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
for his critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary series Ross Kemp on Gangs
Ross Kemp on Gangs
Ross Kemp on Gangs is a BAFTA award-winning documentary series shown on Sky1 and later repeated on Sky3. On 20 May 2007 the series won a BAFTA award for best factual series...
.
Early career
Before becoming publicly known, Kemp made a TV commercial for Kellogg's Fruit 'n FibreFruit 'n Fibre
Fruit 'n Fibre is a breakfast cereal produced by Kellogg's and sold in various countries . It consists of wheat flakes, dried fruit and hazelnuts. Versions of this cereal are also produced by other companies under similar names, such as Fruit & Fibre...
breakfast cereal. His first credited television appearance was in 1986, playing Graham Lodsworth in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Emmerdale Farm (now Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
). He was infamously thrown off set of Emmerdale after reportedly stubbing his toe on a prop and proceeding to violently attack the prop and claim that all props should be 'burnt alive' . He then ironically made guest appearances in episodes of London's Burning
London's Burning
London's Burning was a British television drama programme produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network that focused on the lives of members of the London Fire Brigade, principally those of the Blue Watch at a fictional fire station called Blackwall.It was broadcast between 1986 and...
where he was seen throwing numerous props into the on-set fire, and Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather
Birds of a Feather was a British sitcom that was broadcast on BBC1 from 1989 until 1998. Starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, it was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who also wrote some of the episodes along with many other writers.The first episode sees sisters...
. He was in a film called Playing Away in 1986 in a minor role alongside Neil Morrissey
Neil Morrissey
Neil Anthony Morrissey is an English actor, media personality and businessman. He is best known for his role as Tony in Men Behaving Badly....
.
EastEnders
His most famous role to date is that of hardman Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEndersEastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. Kemp made his debut in February 1990. On-screen, Kemp, as Grant, was often at the centre of EastEnders plots, amongst them abusive marriages to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean
Letitia Dean
Letitia Dean is an English actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Sharon Watts in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, who was one of the serial's original characters. Dean was part of the original cast in 1985 and remained in the series until 1995...
) and Tiffany Mitchell
Tiffany Mitchell
Tiffany Dawn Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Martine McCutcheon from 1995 until 1998. The character was created by the writer, Tony Jordan...
(Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon
Martine McCutcheon is an English singer, television personality and Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress. McCutcheon had minor success as one third of the pop group Milan in the early 1990s; however, it was her role as Tiffany Mitchell in BBC's EastEnders that made her a household name in the UK...
), and the "Sharongate
Sharongate
"Sharongate" is the term used for a storyline in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which reached its climax on 24 October 1994, attracting 25.3 million viewers. The plot was written by EastEnders scriptwriter, Tony Jordan. In the storyline, Sharon Mitchell confessed on tape that she had slept with...
" storyline, that saw Grant's brother Phil Mitchell
Phil Mitchell
Philip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
(Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden is an English actor, known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since1990.-Early life:...
) conduct an affair with his wife.
Kemp announced his departure from the show in April 1999, his last appearance being aired in October 1999 when his character moved to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Kemp refused to rule out an eventual return to EastEnders, and various media reports over the next few years speculated that he would be returning to the series. In early 2005, the BBC confirmed that Kemp would be returning to EastEnders later that year after six years away. Kemp joked that he originally auditioned to play the part of Wellard the dog. It was co-star Barbara Windsor
Barbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
who convinced him to go back for a brief period. His first comeback lasted just a few weeks in 2005, but he returned for a period of three months in 2006, before departing once again in June that year. BBC bosses have left Kemp's role open for a possible future return. Kemp has won various awards for his portrayal of Grant.
In December 2008, Barbara Windsor, Kemp's onscreen mother Peggy publicly called for Kemp to return to the role of Grant. In September 2009, Steve McFadden (Phil) and Danniella Westbrook (Sam), Kemp's onscreen siblings, also expressed their desire to have him back on the show. Kemp has not ruled out returning to the soap again, but he said a return would not be any time soon.
Other roles
Following his initial departure from EastEnders, Kemp moved from the BBC to ITV for a reported £1.2 million. Kemp's first role for ITV was in Hero of the Hour. During its filming, on 27 October 1999, Kemp required treatment in the hospital after being shot in the face when a stunt went wrong. He suffered cuts to his chest and face after safety glass shattered, and was also hit in the face by the discharge from a blank round. He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Barnet Hospital in north London, but made a full recovery. although he was facing 2–5 months of recovery after the incidentHe also starred as the lead in ITV's Christmas edition of A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
. He took the lead roles in the television series, Without Motive and In Defence in 2000, and in 2002's Ultimate Force
Ultimate Force
Ultimate Force is a British television drama series that was shown on ITV, which deals with the activities of the fictional Red Troop of the SAS...
, where he took the role of Army Staff sergeant Henry Garvie from the British Special Air Service
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
. He continued to appear in this role until 2006. He also gained the role of "Cirra" in the 2004 TV film, Spartacus
Spartacus (2004 film)
Spartacus is a 2004 North American Movie directed by Robert Dornhelm and produced by Ted Kurdyla from a teleplay by Robert Schenkkan. It stars Goran Visjnic, Alan Bates, Angus Macfadyen, Rhona Mitra, Ian McNeice, Ross Kemp and Ben Cross. It is based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast...
.
In 2005, Kemp appeared in an episode of BBC's Extras and in a two-part adaptation of the Gerald Seymour
Gerald Seymour
Gerald Seymour is a British writer.-Life:The son of two literary figures, he was educated at Kelly College at Tavistock in Devon and took a BA Hons degree in Modern History at University College London...
novel A Line In The Sand for ITV, and he has also presented, on The Friday Night Project
The Friday Night Project
The Sunday Night Project was a British comedy-variety show by Princess Productions that first aired on Channel 4 in February 2005 under the title The Friday Night Project...
and as a stand in host on The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4...
(2007; 2008).
Ross appeared in the 4th episode of Series 14
Top Gear (series 14)
Top Gear returned for a 14th series, aired on BBC Two and BBC HD, on 15 November 2009, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. The series contained 7 episodes...
of BBC's motoring show Top Gear. He was the "Man in Boot" of a Renault Twingo
Renault Twingo
The Renault Twingo is a city car built by French automaker Renault, first presented at the Paris Motor Show in September 1992 and sold in continental European markets beginning in 1993...
Sport being tested by Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
. The test ended with Clarkson driving the car off the quayside of Belfast Harbour, after which Clarkson joked that Kemp was killed.
Ross Kemp on Gangs
The award-winning TV series Ross Kemp on GangsRoss Kemp on Gangs
Ross Kemp on Gangs is a BAFTA award-winning documentary series shown on Sky1 and later repeated on Sky3. On 20 May 2007 the series won a BAFTA award for best factual series...
, in which Kemp interviewed gang members around the world, was first broadcast in 2006. The first series featured gangs and police corruption in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Māori gangs in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, neo-Nazi skinheads in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, gangsters in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and teenagers from Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent
Blaenau Gwent is a county borough in South Wales, sharing its name with a parliamentary constituency. It borders the unitary authority areas of Monmouthshire and Torfaen to the east, Caerphilly to the west and Powys to the north. Its main towns are Abertillery, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and...
. The second series featured "MS13
Mara Salvatrucha
Mara Salvatrucha is a transnational criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles and has spread to other parts of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. The majority of the gang is ethnically composed of Central Americans and active in urban and suburban areas...
" from El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, neo-Nazis in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, football hooligans in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
"Bloods
Bloods
The Bloods are a street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs...
" and "Crips
Crips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
" gangs in St. Louis, and the Numbers gang in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. In May 2007, Ross Kemp on Gangs
Ross Kemp on Gangs
Ross Kemp on Gangs is a BAFTA award-winning documentary series shown on Sky1 and later repeated on Sky3. On 20 May 2007 the series won a BAFTA award for best factual series...
was awarded a BAFTA award for factual programming. .
The show returned in September 2008 for four more episodes, starting in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
district of Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
. A famously hazardous scene was filmed in Compton when gangland junior Matt 'Malicious' Ward misfired his gun in a rival gang's neighbourhood.
The show has also been released on DVD.
In early 2007 Kemp published his experiences from the TV programme in book form, in 'Ross Kemp. Gangs'.
In early 2009, Ross Kemp on Gangs
Ross Kemp on Gangs
Ross Kemp on Gangs is a BAFTA award-winning documentary series shown on Sky1 and later repeated on Sky3. On 20 May 2007 the series won a BAFTA award for best factual series...
began airing in the United States on the Investigation Discovery channel under the title "Gang Nation."
Ross Kemp in Afghanistan
The Pilot which was initially accepted by Sky was a home video of Ross Kemp and his own gang filming a music video for the then named Channel U On 21 January 2008, SkyBritish Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
broadcast the first episode of a five-part series Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, which entails Kemp following the 1st Battalion of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's Royal Anglian Regiment
Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on 1 September 1964 as the first of the new large infantry regiments, through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the East Anglian Brigade.* 1st Battalion from the...
during their deployment to Afghanistan's Helmand Province
Helmand Province
Helmand is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region, providing water for irrigation....
from March to August 2007. In preparation for the assignment, Kemp had to participate in military training for personal defence, including use of the SA80
SA80
The SA80 is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994....
assault rifle. Kemp has a personal interest in the Royal Anglians, as he is from their recruiting area, and his father served with one of the predecessor regiments of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Norfolk Regiment
Royal Norfolk Regiment
The Royal Norfolk Regiment, originally formed as the Norfolk Regiment, was an infantry regiment of the British Army. The Norfolk Regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as the county regiment of Norfolk...
, in Cyprus. He has since returned to Afghanistan to film a second series of Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, which began its broadcast on Sky One on February 1, 2009, titled Ross Kemp Return to Afghanistan.
Ross Kemp: Middle East
In January and February 2010, SkyBritish Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
broadcast a 2-part documentary on the situation in Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Ross Kemp follows Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
to try and get a glimpse at what is sparking the violence between the two nations in some of the most politically fraught places in the world. He also examines the black market importation from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
into Gaza.
Ross Kemp: Battle For The Amazon
In April 2010 Kemp's documentary, Battle For The Amazon, was shown on Sky 1SKY 1
The Box is an entertainment channel in New Zealand available on SKY Network Television.The channel shows are a variety of the most recent shows such as from the United States, for example CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Simpsons, Family Guy, World Wrestling Entertainments hit shows, and...
, Kemp travelled to areas of the Amazon basin in Brazil and Ecuador, filming the practices of cattle farming, soya bean farming and oil exploration that are causing rapid de-forestation in the region.
Ross Kemp: Extreme World
In February 2011 his new series Ross Kemp: Extreme World debuted on Sky 1.Ross Kemp: Back On The Frontline
Ross returns to Afghanistan 10 years after the War in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
started. The show started on Sky1 on Monday 14th November at 9PM.
Other documentaries
Sky and Ross Kemp have collaborated on various other documentaries. These include Ross Kemp: A Kenya Special, Ross Kemp Meets the Glue Kids and Ross Kemp in Search of Pirates.Ross signed a new 2 year contract with Sky to produce and present 12 hour-long factual programmes for the channel, split over the July 2009 to July 2011 period.
Personal life
His mother Jean was a hairdresser and his father John was a Detective Chief Inspector in the police force. He has one brother, Darren, who is a filmmaker for the BBC. He attended Shenfield High SchoolShenfield High School
Shenfield High School is a Business and Enterprise; and maths and computing specialist state school in Shenfield, Essex. It is widely known as being a school that introduced splitting of boys and girls teaching classes in 1994 for Key Stage 3, and in core curriculum subjects in Key Stage 4 in order...
and the Webber Douglas Academy.
On 11 June 2002 Kemp married Rebekah Wade
Rebekah Wade
Rebekah Mary Brooks is a British journalist and former newspaper editor. She was chief executive of News International , having previously served as the youngest editor of a British national newspaper as editor of the News of the World and the first female editor of The Sun...
, the then editor of The Sun. In November 2005 Wade was arrested following an alleged assault on her husband. Kemp refused medical attention for a swollen lip and no action was taken. In March 2009 Kemp and Wade divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d, after he admitted to adultery. In October 2010, Kemp became a father to a baby boy with ex-partner Nicola Coleman.
Kemp is a longtime supporter of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. In the 2010 General Election he called on voters to back the party "which cares for everyone in society, not just the privileged few."
Glasgow University association
In 1999 he was elected as Rector of the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
as the candidate of the Glasgow University Labour Club
Glasgow University Labour Club
Glasgow University Labour Club was formed in 1946, and has served as a training ground for a number of prominent Labour politicians of the twentieth century. Membership is open to all matriculated students of the University....
, but resigned in 2001 after the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council
Glasgow University Students' Representative Council
Glasgow University Students' Representative Council was founded on 9th March 1886 and recognised as the legal representative body for students of the University of Glasgow by the Universities Act 1889. The SRC is responsible for representing students' interests to the management of the University...
passed a motion requesting him to do so. Ross was succeeded by another actor, Greg Hemphill
Greg Hemphill
Gregory "Greg" Hemphill is a Scottish actor and comedian. He has also presented on television and radio. Along with his comedy partner, Ford Kiernan, he is best known in the United Kingdom for his appearances in Still Game and Chewin' the Fat.-Personal life:Hemphill was born in Glasgow, Scotland,...
.
Awards
| Year | Group | Award | Won | Film/television series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | National Television Awards National Television Awards The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are... |
Most Popular Actor | Nominated | EastEnders EastEnders EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End... |
| 1997 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Nominated | EastEnders |
| 1999 | British Soap Awards British Soap Awards The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to... |
Best Actor | Won | EastEnders |
| British Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Nominated | ||
| British Soap Awards | Best Storyline (for Tiffany discovers Grants affair with her mum) | Won | ||
| Inside Soap Awards Inside Soap Awards The Inside Soap Awards is a yearly award ceremony run by Inside Soap magazine since 1996. The awards celebrate the British and Australian soap operas and their actors. Until 2007, EastEnders had won the award for "Best Soap" on every occasion... |
Best Actor | Won | ||
| Inside Soap Awards | Villain of the Year | Nominated | ||
| TV Quick and Choice Awards | Best Soap Actor | Won | ||
| National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2006 | British Soap Awards British Soap Awards The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to... |
Best Actor | Won | EastEnders |
| British Soap Awards | Best Storyline (for The Mitchells' Return) | Nominated | ||
| British Soap Awards | Spectacular Scene of the year (for Phil's Close Shave) | Nominated | ||
| Inside Soap Awards Inside Soap Awards The Inside Soap Awards is a yearly award ceremony run by Inside Soap magazine since 1996. The awards celebrate the British and Australian soap operas and their actors. Until 2007, EastEnders had won the award for "Best Soap" on every occasion... |
Best Actor | Nominated | ||
| Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | Nominated | ||
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Storyline (for The Mitchells' Return) | Nominated | ||
| TV Quick and Choice Awards | Best Soap Actor | Nominated | ||
| TV Quick and Choice Awards | Best Soap Storyline (for The Mitchells' Return) | Nominated | ||
| National Television Awards | Most Popular Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2006 | BAFTA Awards | Best Factual Series | Won | Ross Kemp on Gangs Ross Kemp on Gangs Ross Kemp on Gangs is a BAFTA award-winning documentary series shown on Sky1 and later repeated on Sky3. On 20 May 2007 the series won a BAFTA award for best factual series... |
| 2008 | AIB Media Excellence Awards AIB Media Excellence Awards The AIB International Media Excellence Awards - the AIBs - were created in 2005 by the Association for International Broadcasting.The AIBs recognise excellence in the international broadcasting industry and attract entries from broadcasters all over the world... |
International TV Personality | Won | Ross Kemp in Afghanistan Ross Kemp in Afghanistan Ross Kemp in Afghanistan and Ross Kemp: Return to Afghanistan are two 5 part Sky One British documentary series fronted by actor Ross Kemp about the British soldiers fighting in the War in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force mission against the Taliban... |
| 2009 | BAFTA Awards | Best Factual Series | Nominated | Ross Kemp in Afghanistan |
| 2009 | BAFTA Awards | Current Affairs | Nominated | Ross Kemp: A Kenya Special |
TV
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–1987 | Emmerdale Emmerdale Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972... |
Graham Lodsworth | Series regular |
| 1988 | London's Burning London's Burning London's Burning was a British television drama programme produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network that focused on the lives of members of the London Fire Brigade, principally those of the Blue Watch at a fictional fire station called Blackwall.It was broadcast between 1986 and... |
Liver Salts | 1 episode: 1.3 |
| 1989 | Birds of a Feather Birds of a Feather Birds of a Feather was a British sitcom that was broadcast on BBC1 from 1989 until 1998. Starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, it was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who also wrote some of the episodes along with many other writers.The first episode sees sisters... |
Detective Inspector Monk | 1 episode: Shift |
| 1990 | The Chief The Chief (UK television series) The Chief is a British television crime drama series that aired on ITV from 1990 to 1995, starring Martin Shaw, Michael Cochrane and Tim Pigott-Smith. It was made by Anglia Television.-Summary:... |
PC Dennis Scovell | 3 episodes: 1.2, 1.3 & 1.5 |
| 1990–1999 | EastEnders EastEnders EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End... |
Grant Mitchell Grant Mitchell (EastEnders) Grant Anthony Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. Grant first appeared in 1990, introduced by producer Michael Ferguson to revamp the show. Kemp remained until 1999 when he opted to leave... |
Series regular |
| 1993 | Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time | Grant Mitchell Grant Mitchell (EastEnders) Grant Anthony Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. Grant first appeared in 1990, introduced by producer Michael Ferguson to revamp the show. Kemp remained until 1999 when he opted to leave... |
|
| 1998 | City Central | Dilly Dally | 1 episode: Nothing Like a Dame |
| EastEnders: The Mitchells - Naked Truths | Grant Mitchell Grant Mitchell (EastEnders) Grant Anthony Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. Grant first appeared in 1990, introduced by producer Michael Ferguson to revamp the show. Kemp remained until 1999 when he opted to leave... |
Spin-off video | |
| 2000 | Hero of the Hour | Richie Liddle | |
| Without Motive | DC Jack Mowbray | 4 part series | |
| A Christmas Carol A Christmas Carol (2000 film) A Christmas Carol is a 2000 television movie modern adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It stars Ross Kemp in the role of Eddie Scrooge.-Plot:... |
Eddie Scrooge | ||
| 2000–2001 | In Defence | Sam Lucas | Series regular |
| 2001 | A Line In the Sand | Gavin Hughes/Frank Perry | Screened on ITV1 ITV1 ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their... in 2004 |
| 2002 | The Paper Round | Accused Man | |
| 2002–2006 | Ultimate Force Ultimate Force Ultimate Force is a British television drama series that was shown on ITV, which deals with the activities of the fictional Red Troop of the SAS... |
SSgt. Henry 'Henno' Garvie | Series regular |
| 2003 | The Crooked Man | Harry Fielding | |
| 2004 | Spartacus Spartacus (2004 film) Spartacus is a 2004 North American Movie directed by Robert Dornhelm and produced by Ted Kurdyla from a teleplay by Robert Schenkkan. It stars Goran Visjnic, Alan Bates, Angus Macfadyen, Rhona Mitra, Ian McNeice, Ross Kemp and Ben Cross. It is based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast... |
Cinna | |
| 2005 | Extras | Himself | 1 episode: 1.2 |
| 2005 & 2006 | EastEnders EastEnders EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End... |
Grant Mitchell Grant Mitchell (EastEnders) Grant Anthony Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. Grant first appeared in 1990, introduced by producer Michael Ferguson to revamp the show. Kemp remained until 1999 when he opted to leave... |
Series regular |
| 2007 | Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind | Trooper #2 | Voice role |
| 2009 | 10 Minute Tales | Liam | 1 episode: The Running of the Deer |
| 2011 | That Sunday Night Show That Sunday Night Show That Sunday Night Show is a British television chat show presented by Adrian Chiles. It was first broadcast on ITV on 9 January 2011. Each episode is 45 minutes long.... |
Himself | Guest Pannelist |
Films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Playing Away Playing Away Playing Away was a 1987 TV comedy about two cricket teams. The English team, fictitiously named Sneddington invited a team of West Indian heritage based in Brixton to play a charity game in support of their “Third World Week.”Starring in the program were:*Norman Beaton*Nicholas Farrell*Brian... |
Sonny | |
| 2011 | Quick Slip Me a Bride | Trevor | Pre-production |