The Kemps & Rhys Thomas shooting All True mockumentary sequel for BBC
- Martin and Gary Kemp are making a sequel to their 2020 BBC mockumentary All True, written and directed by Rhys Thomas
- Filming begins today in London on the follow-up spoof about the Spandau Ballet stars' life and music career, 40 years after the release of their album True
- All True also featured Lucy Montgomery, Simon Day, Tony Way, Perry Benson, Anna Maxwell Martin, Christopher Eccleston, Daniel Mays and Shirlie Kemp
Rhys Thomas is reuniting with Gary and Martin Kemp for a follow-up to their acclaimed BBC Two mockumentary The Kemps: All True, British Comedy Guide can exclusively reveal.
Filming begins today in London on the sequel to the 2020 special, with the Spandau Ballet stars further sending up their life and music career.
Down The Line star and "rock documentarian" Thomas is once again writing and directing the one-off special for BBC Studios, 40 years after True became the New Romantic band's breakthrough album.
Further details have yet to emerge.
All True saw their Kemp brothers supposedly revisiting their childhood home; running a retirement home for pensionable pop stars; meeting the brother they never knew they had (Perry Benson) and collaborating with the likes of Sia (Lucy Montgomery) and Rag and Bone Man (Tony Way) on new versions of their classic song True.
Gary was disgraced over his (meaty) meat substitute Wonge, while Martin sought investment for an ill-advised gangster movie featuring Christopher Eccleston, Daniel Mays and Alan Ford among others, a nod to the Kemp brothers' portrayal of The Krays in the eponymous film, prior to the brothers accidentally and pre-emptively announcing the Queen's death on Radio 2 in a desperate bid for publicity.
Other guest stars in the 60 minute programme included Anna Maxwell Martin, Simon Day and Martin's real-life wife Shirlie Kemp. Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley only appeared in archive footage and with devil horns and fangs in a painting supposedly by Gary.
He reportedly told The Sun that: "I wasn't approached and would not have anything to do with it. I'm done.
"They want me back for good but it ain't going to happen. I'd rather be happy on my own than be in that band again."
Martin Kemp recently appeared as himself on The Horne Section TV Show on Channel 4 and is reported to be lined up for the channel's upcoming format, The Really Rude Puppet Show, hosted by Mel Giedroyc.
Since All True, Thomas and his co-writer and wife Montgomery have attracted plaudits for their BBC One children's television series Dodger, inspired by the character from Oliver Twist. Featuring Billy Jenkins as the artful Jack Dawkins and Eccleston as Fagin, and set in Victorian London prior to the events of Charles Dickens's classic novel, it won a British Academy Children's Award for best scripted programme.
Meanwhile, another Thomas co-creation, prog rocker Brian Pern (played by Day) recently added his voice to recent criticism of Pink Floyd singer Roger Waters in a clip posted on Instagram.
The Pern documentaries, about the former frontman of the fictional group Thotch, ran for three series and two specials on BBC Four and BBC Two between 2014 and 2017.
The Kemps: All True is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer.