Martin Kemp: How close have you come to death?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A recurring Guardian Q&A prompt asked directly across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Martin Kemp said elsewhere, not written here

In 1995, I discovered I had two brain tumours. The process of having them removed went on for about three years. It was a long and drawn-out time, wondering whether or not I was going to die.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 July 2018 source ↗

Others on this question

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Joseph Fiennes English actor

Climbing in Tibet, surfing in Australia and a moment ago by a courgette cutter as I dithered over one of these questions.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 October 2008 source ↗

Marc Almond English singer

The motorcycle crash, but also when a neon sign fell on my head in Soho in the 90s.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 November 2017 source ↗

Emeli Sandé British singer

On a camping holiday in Scotland when I was nine: I was in an inflatable dinghy that drifted out to sea. A lifeboat had to come.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 January 2017 source ↗

Nuala McGovern

I lived in New York during 9/11 and worked a couple of blocks away from the twin towers. I was looking when the first tower exploded and then when the second plane flew in and, before we had to evacuate, I did see people jump to their death.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 November 2025 source ↗