Martin Kemp has broken his silence after suffering a serious chainsaw accident during some gardening work at his Hertfordshire home.
The Spandau Ballet star, 64, injured his hand while doing some garden work, attempting to trim branches as part of the couple’s ongoing home renovation and landscaping projects.
Posting a short video to Instagram, Kemp appeared with his hand bandaged and told fans: “Hey guys, just a little message. You might have seen in the papers that I had a terrible accident with a chainsaw, which I did, but it was last week. I’m a lot better now.”
Kemp later confirmed he was “alright” after grabbing the chainsaw by the blade when it suddenly turned on - a frightening ordeal that saw him rushed to hospital. Despite the incident, he’s reportedly already back pottering in the garden.
'Why is he picking up a chainsaw?'
Roman went on to share that his father had texted the family group chat late on Friday night with no explanation.
“I just finished work, looked at my phone, and saw a photo of his hand. All his fingers were strapped up, and all he wrote was, ‘Yep… Chainsaw!!!’”
When Roman and his sister Harley pressed for details, Martin eventually replied: “There was a bit of a branch we wanted chopping down, so I went and got a chainsaw.”
Roman joked that his dad should “hire a professional” at his age, adding: “He’s 65 – he’s got more than enough dough! Why is he picking up a chainsaw?”
According to Roman, Martin admitted: “I picked it up from the blade.”
The former EastEnders actor was rushed to hospital, where he received treatment for deep cuts and a tetanus shot. Fortunately, the musician still has full use of his fingers, and his sense of humour.
From garden glory to chaos
The accident comes just a month after Martin delighted fans on Instagram with his autumn harvest of giant kale and Brussels sprouts, proudly grown in raised beds at the couple’s countryside home.
In posts shared on Instagram, followers praised the star’s huge harvests, impressive garden setup and his passion for homegrown produce.
Meanwhile, Martin’s wife Shirlie Kemp, 62, recently showcased her ‘unkempt’ Victorian garden style, a wild, meadow-inspired approach designed to encourage biodiversity and natural beauty.
She revealed that the couple had been preparing their garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, explaining that letting the plants grow freely “creates a romantic, natural space that supports wildlife.”
The Kemp home renovation journey
The couple’s Hertfordshire property has been a labour of love for the past few years.
Martin and Shirlie transformed their Victorian home, including a full kitchen redesign, refreshed garden areas, and even the conversion of a former pig hut into a “romantic rustic dining room” nicknamed Piglet.
What began as a five-year renovation plan was completed in just 18 months, and the pair often share glimpses of their stylish interiors and tranquil garden on Instagram.
Kemp now 'banned from power tools'
Martin is said to be recovering well at home and “already back to pottering about in the garden,” though he’s been strictly forbidden from touching any sharp tools for the foreseeable future.
Roman joked: “Mum’s banned him from anything with a blade. She said if he can’t be trusted with a chainsaw, he can stick to watering the kale.”
Fans have flooded the couple’s Instagram page with messages of support, and plenty of gentle teasing, reminding everyone that even the most experienced DIY enthusiasts should take care when working outdoors this winter.
