Tom Read Wilson Praises Martin Kemp for Speaking Polari

Tom Read Wilson is a well-known LGBTQ+ television personality. He recently praised his co-star Martin Kemp. The two appeared together on I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2025.

Wilson was very happy to learn something special about Kemp. Martin Kemp, famous as a member of Spandau Ballet, can speak Polari. Polari is a secret language. Gay men in Britain used it many decades ago. It helped them communicate safely when being gay was still illegal.

Tom Read Wilson called Martin Kemp 'special' because of this skill. Wilson is openly gay and works on the show Celebs Go Dating. He knows a lot about LGBTQ+ culture and history. For him, Polari is more than just words. It is an important part of queer heritage.

Polari was widely used in Britain from the 1930s to the 1970s. It mixed words from different languages. These included Romani, Italian, and Cockney slang. Gay men used it in secret to talk to each other. The BBC comedy show Round the Horne made Polari more popular in the 1960s. After homosexuality became legal in 1967, fewer people used Polari. But many LGBTQ+ people still see it as a cultural symbol.

Martin Kemp knowing Polari surprised many people. He is straight but has always been a strong ally to the LGBTQ+ community. His knowledge of Polari shows his respect for queer history. Tom Read Wilson appreciated this very much.

The two celebrities were on the ITV show together with other famous faces. These included rapper Aitch and actress Shona McGarty. The jungle show often brings very different people together. This time, it also brought an unexpected lesson in LGBTQ+ history.

Wilson shared his feelings about Kemp in a recent interview. He said it meant a lot to him. Seeing a straight ally embrace queer culture and language is important. It shows that LGBTQ+ history belongs to everyone. Wilson hopes more people will learn about Polari and its significance.