Celebrity Juice’s Fearne Cotton says Leigh Francis is ‘weird’ and is actually turning into Keith Lemon
Fearne told Sunday Brunch Keith scares her for 'staying in character' as she admits he is pushing boundaries
CELEBRITY Juice panellist says she's having difficulty working out where Leigh Francis' personality ends and his alter ego Keith Lemon begins.
And she said she's had at least one incidence where she couldn't work out whether she was talking to either personalities.
ITV2 brought the Keith Lemon’s panel show back for a 15th series in February.
But in a revealing interview Fearne says she sometimes gets perplexed over 43-year-old comedian Leigh Francis who rarely comes out of character.
Talking about her relationship with the outrageous bleached haired, ginger mustachioed 'failed businessman' Lemon, she told Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer on Sunday Brunch, that he pushes 'boundaries.'
Explaining that he was 'scared' to have Keith Lemon on his Channel 4 show, Tim said: "He just scares me because he stays in character. And I can't get my head around it."
To which Fearn responded: "He does and actually the margins are now blurring from real Leigh Francis to Keith Lemon, and I am like, 'Are you in character? Or are you just being you, but being a bit weird?'"
Ten years ago Leigh told an interviewer that he had based the fictional character on his best friend who he claims was called Keith Lemon.
But over the years as he's developed the character's bawdy personality he has gone from the strength to strength and even has a double.
And while 34-year-old Fearne says she has an unusual relationship with him, she still has a lot of professional respect.
She added: "He is the loveliest guy. he's a genius, he just won a BAFTA.
"He is a genius, a complete genius."
Tim then inquired more about her friendship with her colleague.
He asked: "Is it like having two friends though?"
And she responded: "There is a difference when you are sat with Leigh.
"He's a dad, he's got kids and then when he is Keith when he can get away with anything, he is just pushing the boundaries and ridiculous."
Last year Keith vowed to retire age 50 however it is unclear how old he actually is.
He said: “I said to my girlfriend who’s French – her name’s Nicole, which is French for Nicola – I said,‘When I’m 50 I’m just going to f***ing disappear and go on holiday for the rest of my life.’
“I’m going to work right hard until I’m 50.
“I’ll probably just go back to Leeds and get p***ed with my mates.”
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