Leigh Francis
About
Leigh Francis is a multi-talented performer, best known for creating Channel 4’s Bo’ Selecta! and for portraying the iconic character Keith Lemon.
Early Life
Leigh Francis was born with a creative flair and studied graphic design at the Leeds College of Art. Before breaking into television, Francis honed his comedic talents performing stand-up comedy in southern comedy clubs.
Early Characters
Francis’ television career began with the role of Bobby Stark on Dom and Kirk’s Nite O Plenty, where he portrayed a character who gave advice on how to win over women. His second major role was Barry Gibson, a music paparazzo, in the early series of Channel 4’s Popworld.
Bo’ Selecta!
Leigh Francis’ big break came when Channel 4 offered him a £250,000 deal to create a show based on his TV characters. In 2002, Bo’ Selecta! was born. The show, which became a cultural phenomenon, saw Francis portraying several celebrities with face masks, including Craig David and Mel B, and the non-celebrity character, Avid Merrion.
Keith Lemon
After Bo’ Selecta! was axed, Leigh Francis took the character Keith Lemon from the show and created a new TV series, Keith Lemon’s Very Brilliant World Tour, which aired on ITV2 in 2008. The show was a success, leading to the creation of the long-running Celebrity Juice, which Francis continued to present in character as Keith Lemon.
In November 2011, Keith Lemon: The Film was released, with Francis reprising his role as Lemon. The film also featured a star-studded cast including Verne Troyer as Lemon’s guardian angel, Kevin Bishop, Laura Aikman, Kelly Brook, and celebrity cameos from David Hasselhoff, Ronan Keating, Gary Barlow, Peter Andre, Fearne Cotton, and many others.
Since 2013, Leigh Francis has also presented Through the Keyhole on ITV, continuing to play Keith Lemon. In 2015, he starred in The Keith Lemon Sketch Show on ITV2.
Leigh Francis has become a household name in British comedy, renowned for his unique character portrayals and humorous, often irreverent television shows.