Keith Lemon says English people living in the US are miserable
The TV funnyman says they have 'sadness in their eyes' as he unveils bizarre new sketch-show series Keith's American Dream
Keith Lemon is taking some of his favourite, bonkers sketch-show characters across the Pond to try to crack America – but he won’t be too bothered if it doesn’t work out.
“I guess financially it would be rewarding as you get paid more in the US and I like going there, but I don’t want to live in America,” says Keith, 44.
“Every English person I see living there – maybe I shouldn’t say this – I always think I can see a bit of sadness in their eyes. There are no pubs and no one hangs out.
“I often say to my agent that I don’t like shelving a lot of the shows we do here. I’m like: ‘Why don’t we try to sell it over there?’ But as long as I’m working at home I’m quite happy.
“My dreams are all happening at home. I get to remake old films with Paddy McGuinness [on The Keith & Paddy Picture Show] and I get to hang out with Holly Willoughby, Gino D’Acampo and Fearne Cotton [on Celebrity Juice].”
In the mockumentary-style series, Keith is on a mission to land his own US chat show by introducing LA to his comedy alter egos, including The Urban Fox – “It was f***ing hot in that fox costume, we had a medic in case I fainted” – ‘David Dickinson’ and The Big Fat Gypsy Kardashians, in a sketch that includes Eamonn Holmes playing Donald Trump.
Plus, he has roped in some other big-name guests.
“We’ve got Jack and Sharon Osbourne on – they go shopping for dog clothes – Ricki Lake, John Barrowman and Gene Simmons,” Keith reveals.
“Because Gene’s got a lady’s name, he does his alpha male bravado thing. At first he’ll try to belittle you, so you just get your d**k out and go to him: ‘Shut up and look at that.’”
Keith Lemon: Coming in America, Thursday, 10pm ITV2
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