Martin Kemp couldn’t resist suggesting former Spandau Ballet bandmate Tony Hadley could be a Bond villain (Picture: James Gourley/Publishd/Shutterstock)

More than three decades after their chart-topping heyday, the long-simmering tensions between Spandau Ballet stars Martin Kemp and Tony Hadley appear to have bubbled back to the surface — this time with a pointed joke delivered in front of a national audience.

Martin, 64, couldn’t resist a mischievous dig at his former bandmate while appearing on Good Morning Britain, following his recent exit from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.

A Joke That Reopened Old Wounds

Spandau Ballet were one of the biggest bands of the 1980s, shifting millions of records (Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty)

During the interview, hosts Charlotte Hawkins and Adil Ray asked Martin about a revelation he had made on the reality show — that he once auditioned to play James Bond.

Laughing, Martin admitted the story was something he had “dined out on for years”, recalling how legendary 007 producer Barbara Broccoli invited him to read for the role while he was living in Los Angeles.

But when the conversation turned playful, the atmosphere subtly shifted.

Members John Keeble, Tony, Steve Norman, Gary Kemp and Martin togethet in happier times in 2015 (Picture: PA)

Martin joked that these days he’d prefer to play a Bond villain, prompting Adil to suggest a casting idea where Martin could be 007 and his brother Gary Kemp might take on the role of the baddie.

That’s when Martin delivered the line that instantly caught viewers’ attention.

“Are you coming in as Tony Hadley?”

The quip drew laughter in the studio — and immediately reignited memories of one of British pop’s most famous fallouts.

From 80s Superstars to Bitter Fallout

Spandau Ballet — made up of Martin Kemp, Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Steve Norman and John Keeble — were among the biggest bands of the 1980s, dominating the charts with hits including True and Gold.

However, behind the scenes, tensions were building.

The band initially split in 1990, with Tony, Steve and John later launching legal action against Gary Kemp and his company over songwriting royalties — a case they ultimately lost.

Despite the bitterness, the group appeared to bury the hatchet in 2009, reuniting for a hugely successful greatest-hits world tour that thrilled fans and suggested old wounds had healed.

Tony’s Final Exit — And Lingering Resentment

That fragile peace didn’t last.

In 2017, Tony quit Spandau Ballet for good, choosing to pursue a solo career after what he described as mounting internal tensions.

In later interviews, he hinted at deep-rooted issues, claiming his former bandmates had made his life “pretty impossible”.

“You don’t just leave a band like Spandau Ballet for fun,” Tony said in a 2021 interview.
“One day I wish people would be honest and ask why I really left.”

The remaining members, however, publicly rejected his version of events, stating that Tony had made it clear he no longer wanted to work with the band — forcing them to move on without him.

A Band That Never Quite Recovered

After Tony’s departure, Spandau Ballet recruited West End actor Ross William Wild as their new frontman, but the revival was short-lived.

The group split again in 2019, closing the chapter on one of Britain’s most influential pop acts — at least for now.

In recent years, both sides have insisted they’ve moved on, though Martin’s latest remark suggests unresolved feelings may still linger beneath the surface.

A Light-Hearted Joke — Or Something More?

While Martin’s comment on Good Morning Britain was delivered with a smile, fans were quick to debate whether it was simply harmless banter — or a carefully aimed reminder of a feud that never truly faded.

Decades after their glittering rise to fame, it seems the Spandau Ballet story still isn’t finished being written.

And as this latest moment shows, sometimes it only takes one line on live TV to reopen a chapter many thought had long been closed.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/