Keith Lemon
Encyclopedia
Background
In an interview, Francis claimed that Lemon is loosely based on his best friend. The character is easily distinguished by hiscamp demeanour, exaggerated Yorkshire accent, bleached mullet, ginger moustache and fake tan. According to Francis, Lemon's background is that of a failed businessman, who was most successful in 1993, when he won the prestigious Businessman of the Year award for his innovative creation, the securi-pole".
Bo! Selecta
Lemon first appeared as a recurring character in the Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
impersonations series Bo' Selecta!
Bo' Selecta!
Bo' Selecta! is a British sketch show written and performed by Leigh Francis, known for its often deeply surreal, abstract toilet humour, which lampoons popular culture. It was broadcast on Channel 4 and ran for three series between 2002 and 2004, spawning several spin-offs...
, which was created and performed by Francis. He appeared once in the first series, in a scene which depicted himself in a trendy wine bar attempting to chat-up Tess Daly
Tess Daly
Helen Elizabeth "Tess" Daly is an English television presenter. She is married to the presenter Vernon Kay.-Early life:Daly was born in Derbyshire to Vivian , who died of emphysema, and Sylvia Daly...
. He did not appear again until the third series, where he was introduced as the agent of Avid Merrion, the main character, also played by Francis, after Avid gets himself his own television show. Lemon's face was not shown to camera during this series. He once again appeared in series four, which was sub-titled "A Bear's Tail", where he became the neighbour of the Hennerson family, who adopted another of the programmes' characters, the Bear, after they ran him over. He appeared in the final series of the programme, sub-titled "Bo! In The USA", where he became the American ambassdor for the securi-pole.
Very Brilliant World Tour
Following the conclusion of Bo! Selecta, Francis made the announcement that he was intending to create a brand new show featuring Lemon. The programme, entitled Keith Lemon's Very Brilliant World TourKeith Lemon's Very Brilliant World Tour
Keith Lemon's Very Brilliant World Tour was a travel-style comedy series hosted by Keith Lemon, a character portrayed by comedian Leigh Francis. The series was first announced during an appearance by Lemon on the Big Brother companion show Big Brother's Big Mouth in 2007...
, depicted Lemon flying to six different countries around the world, in a shark-shaped flight plan, meeting various celebrity guests along the way. The series premiered on 11 March 2008 on ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
. The series pulled in successful ratings, however, following all six episodes being aired, Francis announced he was working on another project, again with ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
.
Celebrity Juice
In August 2008, Francis announced that he would be premiering Celebrity JuiceCelebrity Juice
Celebrity Juice is a British television comedy panel game show on ITV2 that has been airing since 24 September, 2008. The show is presented by Keith Lemon, with regular captains Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton, alongside regular panellist Rufus Hound...
, a comedy-style panel series, hosted by Lemon, in which two teams of celebrities would battle to see which knew the most about the past week's news. The series began airing in September 2008, featuring regular team captains Holly Willoughby
Holly Willoughby
Holly Marie Willoughby is an English television presenter and model, known for her work in presenting children's TV and entertainment shows. In her early career she modelled underwear and went on to present CD:UK...
and Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
, as well as regular panellist, Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound is a British comedian and presenter. He is also the winner of 2010 "Let's Dance for Comic Relief".-Career:...
. The series has been highly successful, and to date, five series have been aired, with a sixth series currently airing. The series revealed further details about Lemon, including his belief that he is the son of Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean
Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English Grammy Award winning popular music performer who had a string of rhythm and blues international pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the most popular British-based R&B singer / songwriter of the early to mid-1980s...
; that all Irish people should be referred to as "potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
", a quote frequently referred to when discussing Jedward
Jedward
John Paul Henry Daniel Richard Grimes and Edward Peter Anthony Kevin Patrick Grimes are an Irish hip pop duo. They are identical twins and perform under the name Jedward...
, Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
or any other Irish personnel; and that "If I don't see ya' through week, I'll see ya' through window". The series has also popularised his quotes "Bang Tidy!","I'd smash your back doors in!",which first became known during Lemon's Bo! Selecta appearances, and more recently "Motting".
The Bang Tidy Show
Following the success of Celebrity Juice, ITV1ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
announced plans for a prime-time saturday night series featuring Lemon, entitled Keith Lemon's Bang Tidy Show. A pilot for the series was filmed in June 2011, and a full series is expected to air from November. The description of the series is as follows: "While there's all the usual celebrity guests from hit series Celebrity Juice
Celebrity Juice
Celebrity Juice is a British television comedy panel game show on ITV2 that has been airing since 24 September, 2008. The show is presented by Keith Lemon, with regular captains Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton, alongside regular panellist Rufus Hound...
, there's also a talking Orangutan, a door that leads to anywhere, audience games and prizes, a supermarket in the future staffed by old celebrities, and you, the audience, can ask Keith anything you want! Each episode will also finish with Keith performing with his celebrity guests.
Other projects
Since 2008, Lemon has made numerous appearances on the Big Brother companion shows Big Brother's Little Brother and Big Brother's Big Mouth, as a celebrity guest discussing the action in the house, and as the host of public phone-in competitions. In February 2009, Lemon appeared as a contestant alongside fellow comedian Paddy McGuinnessPaddy McGuinness
Paddy McGuinness may refer to:* Paddy McGuinness , English stand-up comedian* Padraic McGuinness , Australian journalist- See also :...
on the first series of the charity competition Let's Dance for Comic Relief
Let's Dance for Comic Relief
Let's Dance for Comic Relief is a British television programme shown on BBC One, featuring celebrities performing famous dance routines to raise money for the charity Comic Relief. The programme is currently presented by Steve Jones and Alex Jones, who replaced previous host Claudia Winkleman in...
, where their performance made them the runners-up of the series. Since March 2010, Lemon has made regular appearances on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! companion show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here Now!, alongside host Caroline Flack
Caroline Flack
Caroline Louise Flack is a British television presenter. She is known for presenting I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! from 2008 to 2010....
. In July 2010, Lemon began recording a fitness DVD with Australian fitness instructor Deanne Berry
Deanne Berry
Deanne Berry is an Australian dancer and choreographer best known for her appearance in the music video for the single "Call on Me" by Eric Prydz.-Biography:...
. Since being released in November 2010, the DVD, entitled 'Keith Lemon's Fit', has sold over 50,000 copies. The DVD was subsequently aired on ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
in December 2010. Since August 2010, Lemon has also worked as an agony uncle on daytime television series This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
, alongside his Celebrity Juice colleague Holly Willoughby
Holly Willoughby
Holly Marie Willoughby is an English television presenter and model, known for her work in presenting children's TV and entertainment shows. In her early career she modelled underwear and went on to present CD:UK...
. For one week in February 2011, Lemon became producer of the series, taking over from the absent Karl Newton. Also in February 2011, Lemon became a judge on the third series of Let's Dance for Comic Relief. In March 2011, Lemon became the co-host of ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
celebrity game show Sing If You Can
Sing If You Can
Sing If You Can is an ITV1 game show which features celebrities attempting to sing in front of a live studio audience whilst various attempts are made to disrupt their performances. It is presented by Keith Lemon and Stacey Solomon, though originally Vernon Kay was scheduled to host, but he felt...
with Stacey Solomon
Stacey Solomon
Stacey Solomon is a British singer, television presenter, model and reality TV star. She rose to fame during her time on the sixth series of The X Factor, coming third overall on the show...
, after original intended host Vernon Kay
Vernon Kay
Vernon Charles Kay is a British television presenter, radio DJ, american footballer and former model. He began television presenting on the BBC children's programme FBi, a spin-off of Fully Booked. Since he has presented various programmes, most notably T4, Beat the Star and All Star Family...
pulled out. In September 2011, Lemon made his first ever public appearance, where he switched on the lights for the Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool Illuminations is an annual Lights Festival, founded in 1879 and first switched on 18 September that year, held each autumn in the English seaside resort of Blackpool on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire....
. Lemon is also currently promoting Tacheback
Tacheback
Tacheback is the name of a UK charitable event where each September, thousands of men grow a sponsored moustache for that month to raise money for the Everyman Campaign, a UK male cancer research charity which funds research in and awareness of male prostate and testicular cancers.The name is a mix...
, a campaign to raise awareness of male cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. On the 8th of September 2010, it was revealed that Lemon would make his feature film debut in Keith Lemon: The Film, with production starting later that month.