Martin Kemp and Roman Kemp head for Meath, Cork and Derry in new road trip show
martin kemp is at the center of a new journey across the island of Ireland, with Martin Kemp and Roman Kemp set to take viewers from County Cork to Meath, Dublin and Northern Ireland. The series follows the father-and-son duo as they move through landscapes, landmarks and stories shaped by legend, history and mystery. It begins on Monday, April 27 at 9pm ET and ends at the Derry Halloween Festival.
A journey built around legend and family connection
The show places martin kemp and Roman Kemp on a road trip that is as personal as it is cultural. Martin previously lived in Ireland during his time with Spandau Ballet, where he developed a strong appreciation for the country’s storytelling traditions. The trip also reflects long-standing suggestions of Irish ancestry in the family, giving the series a layer of identity and connection that runs beneath the travelogue format.
Across the route, the pair meet remarkable individuals and hear stories tied to old rituals, performance and folklore. They pass from ancient tombs and faerie forts to rugged coastlines and supposedly haunted castles, with Martin leaning into the myths and Roman taking a more sceptical view. That contrast gives the series its rhythm, turning each stop into both an adventure and a question about what the two men are willing to believe.
From Cork to the Hill of Tara
The first part of the trip takes the pair to County Cork, where they kayak along the south coast and hear the legend of Cliona, Queen of the Banshees. They also visit Spike Island, known as “Ireland’s Alcatraz, ” and explore one of the country’s most significant stone circles. Their Cork leg includes a look at a revived Irish tradition for coping with grief, before Martin performs with a storytelling group in a local pub.
The journey then moves along the east coast through Counties Meath and Dublin. In the Boyne Valley, they visit an ancient tomb said to be older than both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, and at the Hill of Tara they meet an Arch Druid and take part in a sound bath experience. In the Dublin Mountains, they explore ruins linked to the Hellfire Club before heading to Slane Castle, where Martin reconnects with its owner from his Spandau Ballet years.
What Martin Kemp and Roman Kemp face in the north
In the final leg, martin kemp and Roman Kemp reach snowy Northern Ireland, where the tone turns colder and the legends grow wilder. Along the Causeway Coast, they brave an icy sea swim inspired by the Selkies, mythical beings said to transform from seals into humans. They also investigate a vampire tale believed by some to have influenced Bram Stoker, searching for its supposed burial site.
In the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, the pair try hurling, the ancient sport rooted in mythology. After a restless night in one of Northern Ireland’s most haunted hotels, they end their trip at the Derry Halloween Festival, where the series looks at the Irish origins of Halloween.
Why the series matters now
The show fits into a broader wave of travel stories that mix heritage, place and personal history, but its appeal is in the way it stays rooted in specific people and places. Martin Kemp brings experience and memory to the trip, while Roman Kemp brings doubt, curiosity and a fresh point of view. That combination gives the series a clear human focus rather than treating Ireland only as scenery.
For viewers, the key date is Monday, April 27 at 9pm ET, when martin kemp and Roman Kemp begin their journey on Virgin Media PLAY and Virgin Media One. The route promises history, folklore and family reflection, with the final stop at Derry Halloween Festival serving as the closing chapter of a story that moves steadily from myth to meaning.
