Roman Kemp's crippling health battles that ended his prestigious radio career

02 March 2024 , 19:30

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Roman has faced his own health battles (Image: BBC / TwoFour / Phil Sharp)

Roman Kemp has been brutally honest about his personal struggles that forced him to make one of the hardest decisions of his life.

Popular telly and radio star Roman Kemp will be taking the helm at this year’s BRIT Awards alongside Clara Amfo and Maya Jama - a job he’s described as a “dream come true”. But recently the presenter has faced a difficult crossroads in his career and one which saw him quit his prestigious role hosting Capital’s Breakfast show.

Roman, son of eighties pop stars Martin and Shirlie Kemp, shocked the world of radio when he announced he was stepping down from the demanding early morning slot.

Speaking with co-hosts Sian Welby and Chris Stark, Roman said: "I’ve loved every single moment of my time at Capital. The last 10 years have been amazing and hosting the legendary Capital Breakfast is the best job ever. But after almost seven years of early alarms, I’m looking forward to some lie-ins and it’s time to hand over the baton!"

He confessed it was one of the hardest decisions he’s had to make and one he struggled with but it was his own personal health battles that led him to eventually admit his time on the show had come to an end. Roman's replacement is former BBC Radio1 Drivetime host Jordan North.

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Roman Kemp's crippling health battles that ended his prestigious radio career

Roman said he's struggled with the decision (@capitalofficial/Instagram)

Roman choked up as he announced his decision (@capitalofficial/Instagram)

In 2022, the 30-year-old revealed his plans to quit the busy job within five years after receiving a devastating diagnosis, caused by his hectic work schedule.

He opened up about walking away from the limelight after being diagnosed with sleep apnoea - a condition which causes a person's breathing to stop and start while sleeping. The disorder has even led to the star having to wear an oxygen mask at night time.

Speaking to Mail Online , the presenter who had dealt with five years of demanding early starts for his show, said: "My tiredness levels were debilitating, and they said to me it was because of my job and I said this is different. I was talking with people where I thought I was verging on narcolepsy because I was mid-conversation and would be snoring and not realising, it was very strange.

"The doctors told me I must wear an oxygen mask. There is absolutely nothing sexy about going back to Roman Kemp's house."

Roman has also been open about his struggles with mental health. He wrote the memoir Are You Really OK? and previously revealed that he’d battled depression from his teenage years, with his mother suggesting he see a doctor at 15.

Heartbreakingly, he confessed he’d considered taking his own life in 2019 after hearing "lots of voices" but found that listening to superstar Ed Sheeran helped him out of the dark period. In an interview with The Mirror , he said: "Ed told me there's dirty water at the top and the more you let it flow it turns into clear water. Each time I speak about how I feel, the water gets clearer."

Following the suicide of his close friend Joe Lyons, a producer at Global Radio, in 2020, Roman spoke out to encourage people, especially men to look out for their mates.

Former BBC Radio 1 legend, Nick Grimshaw who left Capital in 2021 following 14 years of hosting a variety of shows across the network, said he’d seen Roman after he announced his decision to step down.

He told the Mirror : "He's smashed it. He's done breakfast for what, seven years? I saw him not so long ago and he said 'Mate.... so tired'. It's the dream job but you have to totally commit to it. I loved Breakfast so much, but you probably physically can't do it forever and you shouldn't do forever."

The BRITs 2024 takes place on Saturday March 2 and will be broadcast on ITV and ITVX from 8.30pm.