Actor Ross Kemp delighted fans and social media users with his fervent celebration of England's 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo. The actor, widely recognized for his portrayal of the hardman character Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, shared a video of his jubilant reaction on Instagram.
In the clip, Kemp can be seen screaming and spitting towards the camera in excitement, directing his congratulations towards England captain Harry Kane. His animated and intense delivery quickly drew comparisons to his well-known EastEnders persona. Many commenters noted the resemblance, with some humorously urging the actor to "calm down." The online reaction highlighted the public's amusement and engagement with Kemp's passionate display.
Singer Olly Murs, discussing the match on talkSPORT, even performed an impression of Kemp's celebration at the request of presenter Andy Goldstein, underscoring the widespread recognition and humor generated by the video.
This recent outburst follows another moment that captured public attention: Kemp's reunion with his former EastEnders co-star Steve McFadden, who played his on-screen brother Phil Mitchell. The pair shared a rare outing on a boat, which Kemp documented on social media. The reunion of the "Mitchell brothers" also generated significant excitement among fans, who reminisced about the characters' on-screen history and impact on the popular soap opera.
Kemp's return to EastEnders earlier in the year, for a storyline involving his on-screen brother Phil and their history, was driven by personal significance. He noted that his father's death from Alzheimer's and Dame Barbara Windsor's passing from the same illness made the dementia storyline he was involved in particularly important to him. He expressed a mixture of excitement and emotional pressure upon returning to set, stating that he thought of Windsor often, especially in familiar locations like The Vic pub.
Kemp described his return as a "wonderful experience" and expressed honor at being part of a story handled with care by EastEnders. He also mentioned the significance of the Mitchells being reunited on set, noting it was the first time in a decade that Sam, Phil, and Grant had appeared together. He spoke of enjoying working with McFadden again and collaborating with Kim Medcalf and Stephen Aaron-Sipple.