EastEnders legend Ross Kemp's wife has never watched his shows
EastEnders legend Ross Kemp and Renee O'Brien have been married since 2012, and she still has not watched a programme he stars in.
Ross Kemp fell in love with his wife because she had not watched his programmes.
The 61-year-old actor met corporate lawyer Renee O'Brien in 2012 when their mutual friend, who worked for lingerie brand Agent Provocateur, introduced the pair after Ross requested some underwear that contained silver - which were never made.
As Renee "hadn't seen a single thing I was in", that was a big draw for the EastEnders star.
Almost 15 years since their first blind date in a luxurious private members' club in Marylebone, London, his spouse has yet to watch Ross on the box.
He added in the new issue of Radio Times magazine: "That's definitely part of the attraction! In terms of what you see on paper, we're probably incompatible."
Ross and Renee tied the knot in a private ceremony, and they went on to welcome son Leo, 10, and twins Ava and Kitty, eight, in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
The Bridge of Lies host is also dad to Oliver, 15, whom he continues to co-parent with his ex-partner, make-up artist Nicola Coleman.
And childcare gets even more chaotic when it is Ross' turn to have Oliver.
The hard-hitting documentary filmmaker said: "With it being Easter, they're off school, so I was being a taxi for most of the day, taking them to different clubs and things.
"Then it was cooking dinner. One wanted a bit of barbecue, but his sister wanted to have something cooked in the oven - so I was trying to juggle two meals while they were fighting over who was on the trampoline and who was pushing who.
"Also, the dog wanted feeding and ... You know, these are very simple things, but often a day in the field can be easier because all you've got to look after is yourself as opposed to three children under the age of 11.
"And no one was satisfied at the end of it!"
For decades, Ross has put himself in dangerous environments, from Afghanistan to Syria to cartel territory in Colombia, for his gritty documentaries, but his role as hardman Grant Mitchell in EastEnders is his greatest challenge.
The star said: "Nothing I've done fills me with fear more than EastEnders. EastEnders is still the one that pushes me the most."
And that goes for his latest storyline, in which Grant returns from Portugal to come face his estranged son Mark (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) - their first encounter since he discovered who his biological dad is - and confront the decline of his and brother Phil Mitchell's (Steve McFadden's) dementia-striken pal Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley).
Ross said: "You get up so early to get to set, and then at the top of the first page, it says, ‘Grant heaves with tears on seeing Nigel.'"
