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Ross Kemp's private family life behind closed doors


Meet the documentary maker's wife and children here...


Ross Kemp and wife attend the "British Academy Television Awards" at Theatre Royal© Corbis via Getty Images
Francesca Shillcock
Francesca ShillcockDigital Travel Editor
Updated: May 24, 2025
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Ross Kemp has made a name for himself thanks to his iconic role as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders as well as his investigative journalism work on programmes such as Ross Kemp on Gangs.

 The 60-year-old is now beloved for hosting Bridge of Lies on the BBC.  The nail-biting quiz show sees contestants use their knowledge, strategy and a pinch of luck in order to cross the Bridge, spotting the lies. 

Ever wondered what Ross's life is like away from the cameras? The presenter can be found at home in Berkshire with his wife Renee O'Brien and his four children. If you're intrigued about his family, then keep reading to find out more…

Ross Kemp's first wife Rebekah Brooks

In the late 90s, Ross began dating journalist Rebekah Wade, who worked for the now-defunct News of the World. The couple got engaged in 1996 and married in 2002, by which point Rebekah was the editor of The Sun. Sadly, the marriage wasn't to last and the couple officially divorced in 2009.

Ross Kemp and Rebekah Wade at the National Television Awards 2005© Getty
Ross and Rebekah Wade were married for seven years

Ross Kemp's second wife Renee O'Brien

In 2012, Ross married his second wife, Australian-born Renee O'Brien, and the couple remain happily married. The family like to keep their personal life private, and little is known about Renee. However, the father-of-four has briefly spoken about his wife in the past.

While discussing his intense filming schedule, the former EastEnders actor revealed his guilt about leaving his family. He previously told Metro Online: "Guilt, I think that’s part and parcel of it. But I think, my wife didn't really know me from my soap days […] So when we [he and Renee] first got together, she just thought I was some kind of grumpy old bald bloke like in a bar – and she's probably right about that today, I’m still a grumpy old bald bloke in a bar."

Ross Kemp and Renee O'Brien at the Wimbledon Tennis Championship in 2019© Getty
Ross and Renee tied the knot in 2012

Ross Kemp's children

After his divorce from his first wife Rebekah, Ross became a father for the first time aged 46 when his former partner, makeup artist Nicole Coleman, welcomed a son in October 2010.

View post on Instagram
 

Since his marriage to Renee, the documentary maker has welcomed another three children. The couple share a son Leo, born in 2015, and twins Ava and Kitty, born in 2017. Speaking to the MailOnline in 2019, Ross said: "I'm very happy I've got my children and wouldn't have it any other way. I could have done it about a decade earlier though, I should've done. 

"I was old, I was in my 40s, I was quite selfish  before, in terms of you put yourself first, you look at what's going to be best for you and that totally goes out the window when you have children, you put your children way in front of everything"

The star keeps his kids out of the spotlight, choosing not to bring them to showbiz events or post photographs of them on Instagram. 

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