Leigh Francis

The second series of Marmite showbiz send-ups continues. The unlikely Big Fat Gypsy Kardashian mash-up lives on, with ex-Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts joining the fold as Caitlyn Jenner. Elsewhere, there are more potentially slanderous sketches featuring "Olly Murs", "Caroline Flack" and "Martin Clunes", and Yvette Fielding parodies her ghost-hunting gig with Probably Not Haunted. Unless you're a fan of Leigh Francis's titular irritant or share his obsession with the likes of Ant & Dec, it's unlikely to appeal.

Keith Lemon: sharp comic talent or taking the pith?

Few people divide opinion like Leigh Francis's mustachioed creation. As a new series of his panel show Celebrity Juice begins, two writers debate his pros and cons.

Leigh Francis puts holiday privacy ahead of USA plans

Leigh Francis insists he is one of the few TV stars who has no desire to crack America - because he wants to stay anonymous when he goes on holiday.

Leigh Francis on Twitter hate

"I'm only trying to make you laugh"

With Britain seemingly under a collective delusion that Keith Lemon is an actual person (at least if polling for Heat's weird crush of the year is anything to go by), it's time for Leigh Francis to go find/replace-crazy on old Bo' Selecta! scripts. Where once the nation was cooing at the antics of "Craig David", "Mel B" and "Michael Jackson", steel yourself for the likes of "Ed Sheeran", "Kim Kardashian" and "Harry Styles" all doing pretty much the same joke. Proper bo? Proper boring, more like.

Nick Grimshaw apologises for offensive Keith Lemon joke

BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw was forced to apologise to listeners who were offended by a joke, made by guest Keith Lemon, about the plane crash in Taiwan that killed 31 people. Lemon, who is played by 41-year-old comedian Leigh Francis, compared the pilot of the doomed TransAsia Airways Light GE235 to Lady Gaga.

Interview: Keith Lemon / Leigh Francis

"I don't do impressions," explains Keith, whose creator, comedian Leigh Francis, 41, always gives interviews in character. I don't concern myself with doing the right voice, it's more about my own interpretations of people."

One of the major hazards was averted last night when Celebrity Juice's Christmas Special was screened early - but if a teenage relative unwraps a Keith Lemon box set under the tree and you cannot escape, here's how to cope.

Lemon is a gameshow host played by comedian Leigh Francis - he's grindingly upbeat and thick as walrus blubber. Imagine Keith Chegwin with the swear filter switched off, and you've got him. His act is a stream of four-letter words and single entendres, while his guests grin fixedly through the humiliation.

Lemon's panel game, Celebrity Juice, is a cross between a chat show and the Seventies children's romp Tiswas.

The highlight of the Christmas Special was Peter Andre getting coloured gunk poured over his head. Even Noel Edmonds has grown out of that kind of TV.

My advice is to keep your paper party hat to hand. If you do get trapped into watching this dross, pull it down over your eyes and pretend to be asleep.