Ross Kemp

Biography

Ross Kemp is an English actor, born 21 July 1964, who rose to prominence playing the part of Grant Mitchell in BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1986 to 1999. He then signed with ITV where he starred in SAS drama Ultimate Force and other dramas such as Scrooge and Hero Of The Hour. Outside of acting, he presented a Sky One drama about real-life gangs called Ross Kemp On Gangs as well as hosting Channel 4 entertainment show The Friday Night Project. He is married to Rebekah Wade, editor of The Sun who allegedly assaulted him. Kemp is also mentioned on the Xfm shows hosted by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, in an anecdote in which Gervais joked that Pilkington was Phil Mitchell, Kemp's on-screen brother.

Extras

Kemp played himself in series one of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant show Extras. He played upon his image as a television tough guy, portraying himself as a real-life hardman who was starring in a period drama. Kemp boasts to Andy Millman about his martial arts and SAS training and how he could beat fellow actor Vinnie Jones in a fight. Kemp is found out as a lying coward when Jones confronts him and intimidates him. Millman consoles Kemp despite thinking the actor looks like Zippy.