STILL IN PERFECT HARMONY MARTIN AND SHIRLIE KEMP ON KEEPING THAT SPECIAL SPARK AND WHY LOVE IS ALL THAT MATTERS

'Romance is making the other person feel loved. He's still the best-looking man I've ever seen. And still fancy him' Shirlie artin and Shirlie

- ROSALIND POWELL

Kemp are one rare couples with a rock-solid marriage - this year they celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary - who don't feel the need for showy displays of romance.

So this Valentine's Day, former Spandau Ballet star Martin won't be scattering rose petals on the way to their bedroom.

"Done that," says Shirlie.

Instead, they'll demonstrate their love through little gestures.

"It's interesting how love develops, as you get older and become more comfortable with each other," says Martin, 62, as he settles on to a sofa with his wife for our exclusive interview.

"You don't have to try and that in itself becomes attractive. Smaller things mean more, as long as you don't start taking each other for granted."

ENDURING LOVE 

For Shirlie, romance means "making the other person feel loved in a way that you're doing things for them".

"So if Martin's been working all day, I'll light the candles, make the house nice and clean and prepare dinner. But not in a Stepford wife way," she quickly adds.

Domestic bliss is important, but so is having a spark. "He's still the best-looking man I've ever seen. And I still fancy him." The chemistry between them is very much in evidence as the pair cuddle up together at our shoot.

Their displays of affection aren't just for the camera - between takes, Martin, the archetypal silver fox, with his cool quiff and piercing blue eyes, will stroke Shirlie's back or make her smile with a private joke and tell her how gorgeous she looks. They are clearly devoted to each other, which is some feat considering their extraordinary lives.

Together since their early 20s, both were members of two of the world's biggest bands and went on to raise two successful children, musician and singer Harley Moon, 34, and radio and TV presenter Roman, 31, while also facing life-threatening illness and financial near-ruin.