Leigh Francis has finally revealed the real person who inspired his comic alter-ego Keith Lemon – and it’s not who you’d expect.
The 51-year-old comedian appeared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday and left hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls stunned when he explained that the hilariously flamboyant character is actually inspired by his best friend, who has the same name.
Following the axing of Bo’ Selecta!, Francis took one of the series’ characters, Keith Lemon, and created a whole new show called Keith Lemon’s Very Brilliant World Tour in 2008, which made the eccentric persona an instant hit.
Questioning how the idea came about, host Susanna asked: ‘Who was Keith Lemon? Because he’s not a made up person.’
Leigh explained: ‘No, he’s my best friend in Leeds who I’ve known since I was three.’
Leigh Francis has finally revealed the real person who inspired his comic alter-ego Keith Lemon – and it’s not who you’d expect
The 51-year-old comedian appeared on Good Morning Britain on Thursday and left hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls stunned when he explained that the hilariously flamboyant character is actually inspired by his best friend, who has the same name
‘Is he still your best friend,’ quizzed Ed, to which the comedian replied: ‘Yeah, yeah. He was the best man at my wedding. He’s nothing like Keith Lemon but some of the things…
”If I don’t see you through the week I’ll see you through the winter’ came from his mum. They used to say that to me when I used to leave his house and I never knew what it meant.’
Susanna can barely contain her shock as she opens her mouth in astonishment and Ed asks: ‘Is his actual name Keith Lemon?’
‘Yeah and he’s got a sister called Caroline Lemon, Tracey Lemon,’ the comedian elaborated: ‘It doesn’t sound like a real name does it? It’s a wonderful name that brings joy to you when you say it I think.’
Baffled, Susanna asked: ‘Does he mind that you created a whole alter ego using his name and now people think you’re him?’
Leigh revealed: ‘He’s had waves of discomfort but I think at the core of him he’s quite proud, which is lovely I guess.’
Fascinated, the presenters asked the star whether his friend also had a bandage on his hand.
The Bo’ Selecta! star laughed: ‘He actually did yeah – he did. When we were teenagers I can remember it. We were going out and he’d done something to his hand and had a bandage on for way too long.
‘Is he still your best friend,’ quizzed Ed, to which the comedian replied: ‘Yeah, yeah. He was the best man at my wedding. He’s nothing like Keith Lemon but some of the things…’
Fascinated, the presenters asked the star whether his friend also had a bandage on his hand(the pair pictured together)
Leigh revealed: ‘He’s had waves of discomfort but I think at the core of him he’s quite proud, which is lovely I guess’
The real Keith Lemon was even Leigh Francis’ best man at his wedding
‘I said ‘You don’t need that bandage anymore. What have you got that on for?’ and then he says watch this – we’re in a bar – he makes sure that everyone can see his bandage.
‘Then a girl came up to him and said ‘What have you done to your hand?’ and he had a little look at me and said ‘Oh I’ve just got out of the navy, had an accident in the navy.’
He explained: ‘She was quite impressed with this and I asked what’s with the navy thing, he said ladies love it, navy boys they love it.’
In the same interview, Leigh also admitted he wishes he had attended the National Television Awards to clap for Davina McCall, because he owes his career to her.
The comedian couldn’t attend the NTAs on Wednesday night but he was delighted to see legendary TV presenter Davina McCall scoop a Special Recognition award in honour of her lengthy career, after the star helped Leigh to get his big break.
Speaking on GMB, he said: ‘I text Davina this morning. I was so happy for her.
‘She asked me if I was going to the NTAs, and I said, ‘No, I’m not going. I’m busy doing something else. I wish I was there to clap for her, because it’s well deserved.
Leigh also admitted he wishes he had attended the National Television Awards to clap for Davina McCall, because he owes his career to her (pictured in 2016 as Keith Lemon)
The 51-year-old comedian couldn’t attend the NTAs on Wednesday night but he was delighted to see legendary TV presenter Davina McCall scoop a Special Recognition award in honour of her lengthy career , after the star helped Leigh to get his big break
‘I don’t think I’d be here if it wasn’t for Davina.’
The former Celebrity Juice star told how the My Mum, Your Dad host gave his career a huge boost during his early years, by helping him sign up to her agency.
He added: ‘I did a sketch with her. It was the first thing I’d ever done, and she said, “Have you got an agent?” I said, “No,” and she said, “Here’s the number of mine. Are you going to call him?”
‘I said, “No,” and she said, “Do you want me to call him?” I went, “Yeah,” and then she did and hooked me up with her then-agent.
‘I was with them for 12 years. It’s all because of Davina.
‘She’s done loads of pilots with me, and so did Kate Thornton back I the day.’
Keith also told how he once filmed a pilot episode that was produced by Andi Peters, and claimed the TV presenter initially wanted to cast someone else rather than him in the project.
But he eventually landed the role after he dyed his ginger hair and was styled by Johnny Vaughan’s now-ex-wife, costume designer Antonia Davies.
He added: ‘I did a pilot and it was getting commissioned.
‘Andi Peters, who was the commissioner, said, ‘We can’t have that ginger kid doing it though, find someone else.’
‘They auditioned loads of good-looking people, Dermot O’Leary nearly got it, and then they went back to me and told me to dye my hair and change my clothes.
‘I went shopping with Johnny Vaughan’s wife back then, and she styled me.’
