Roman Kemp EXCLUSIVE: Star admits doing a fitness transformation was to help his 'headspace'

Roman Kemp impressed fans in August when he posted a shirtless snap of himself on Instagram showcasing his suddenly-ripped torso and newly-sprung muscles.

The radio presenter, 27, ended up heading into the Australian jungle three months later to take part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! where his every move was going to be watched nightly in nothing but shorts and a skimpy vest.

But Roman insists his hunky makeover was nothing to do with appearing on the stalwart ITV series, nor was it a case of vanity.

Shredded Kemp! Roman Kemp has admitted that his fitness transformation was to help his ‘headspace’ rather than for vanity [pictured in August]

Speaking to MailOnline, Roman – who trained for 12 weeks with the late Caroline Flack’s former-trainer Bradley Simmonds and lost 15.5 percent of his body fat in the process – explained that his fitness regimen was more about his mind than his body.

‘With the gym it gives me a good head-space and resets my day. I have always felt better being active. When I was a kid I was playing football til my mum would call me in for tea…

‘I’ve got to go to the gym to just get my head out of work. And I love the adrenaline. Once you get that buzz of doing it, you want to do it.

‘It’s all about personal health for me.’

At the helm: Bradley Simmonds – who used to train the late Caroline Flack – whipped Roman into shape last summer

Transformation: Roman ended up losing 15.5 percent body fat in 12 weeks [pictured L in May 2019] with the help of Bradley [pictured R]

Mental health: The radio presenter, 27, ended up heading into the Australian jungle last year, but insists his hunky makeover was nothing to do with appearing on the stalwart ITV series, nor was it a case of vanity

Roman revealed he keeps up a regime of training five times a week – on top of his early-morning starts as the host of Capital Breakfast.

‘I basically reached my heaviest two years ago,’ Roman recounted. ‘It was because my Mrs was living in Hong Kong. So I just sat around and ate.’

He branded trainer Bradley ‘fantastic’. The PT is known for his high-profile clients from the likes of footballer John Terry and Loose Women host Saira Khan.

He was also late Love Island presenter Caroline’s PT, with her openly joking that she hated working out but that Bradley always kept her in shape for her on-screen appearances.

Roman also revealed that he is ‘a producer’s nightmare’ when it comes to his morning routine.

Multi-tasker: Roman also revealed that he is ‘a producer’s nightmare’ when it comes to his morning routine

Up and at ’em! Roman revealed he keeps up a regime of training five times a week – on top of his early-morning starts as the host of Capital Breakfast

Bad habits: ‘I basically reached my heaviest two years ago,’ Roman recounted. ‘It was because my Mrs was living in Hong Kong. So I just sat around and ate’

The radio DJ is due on air every morning at 6AM, and admits he ‘rocks up at 5:58AM’.

‘I don’t read the overnight notes and I just rock up at 5:58AM and go “so what shall we talk about today?” It’s always a rush. I’m a producer’s nightmare. But I love it. I love what I’m doing. And I love that I get to start my show at 6AM, an extra half an hour before [the other radio stations’ breakfast shows].’

Roman has also teamed up with Kelloggs as part of a new campaign to promote their latest product, Granola Fusion, which plays on the idea of Task-Fusing to save time in the mornings and instill a more effective routine.

Roman also asserted that the product works with his own regime of staying healthy.

He said: ‘In the mornings you need your sugars and fibres so these are great. You just add water and go from there. I was never one for breakfast but it’s such an important meal. Helps me to actually do it. I can take it to work and eat it quickly.’

Collab: Roman has also teamed up with Kelloggs as part of a new campaign to promote their latest product, Granola Fusion, which plays on the idea of Task-Fusing to save time in the mornings and instill a more effective routine

Other than showcasing his hunky frame in the jungle, Roman credits his time on I’m A Celeb for allowing him to show the public who he is.

‘I could totally be myself,’ Roman, who is the son of 80s pop star and ex-EastEnders actor Martin Kemp, said. ‘I came out of the show and it was crazy.

‘And it kind of hit home that I wasn’t Martin Kemp’s son anymore. Or even Roman Kemp. They said to me: “You’re the name on the back of your jungle shirt. You’re just Roman!”‘

Martin and Roman will be hosting a new show in April called Sunday Best.

‘I get to work with my best mate,’ Roman said of his dad. ‘He and I just go through everything together. We shout, argue, cry together. But any opportunity to work with him, I take it.’

Famous father: Roman is the son of 80s pop star and ex-EastEnders actor Martin Kemp [pictured at the BRITs last month]

Winning: Roman Kemp won the Radio Programme Award at the TRIC Awards 2020 on Tuesday

Teasing guests that might feature on the new series, Roman said: ‘I like to ask favours of friends I know in the industry. Get them to come on and showcase their talent.’

One guest he won’t feature is Jim Carey – who is one of his heroes and who he turned down the opportunity to interview.

‘I was too scared, I turned it down,’ he said. ‘I love him. My humour is sort of based on his. But it was too much pressure. I just couldn’t do it!’

Brand new Granola Fusion smoothie bowls are the first of its kind for Kellogg’s and will be available in two of Kellogg’s iconic breakfast options, Special K Protein Red Berries and Crunchy Nut Chocolate & Hazelnut.