Keith Lemon to star in new ITV sketch show
According to The Daily Star, ITV is to pilot a sketch show starring the comedy character Keith Lemon.
Lemon, who is played by Leigh Francis, is reportedly working on the pilot for ITV2.
The newspaper quotes a source as saying: "Keith Lemon is fast becoming one of the biggest stars on TV so it's no surprise he's been given his own sketch show. Producers are convinced his style will be perfect for that kind of format and know it'll be a ratings hit because of his massive following."
The source added: "Leigh comes across as an idiot when he's playing Keith. But behind the scenes he's ambitious and keen to try new projects and become one of Britain's biggest comedians."
The Keith Lemon character itself first gained fame in Channel 4 sketch show Bo' Selecta!, a comedy vehicle for Francis.
According to the paper filming on the new pilot is due begin imminently, with production on the Talkback show finished by the end of April. If successful, a series could follow later in the year.
Talkback has previously worked with Francis on a number of other shows, including producing the long-running hit Celebrity Juice. The panel show, which regularly attracts over 1 million viewers to ITV2, returns this week for its eleventh series.
Other ITV shows to be built around the character include travel show Keith Lemon's Very Brilliant World Tour, spoof reality show Lemon La Vida Loca, studio entertainment format Keith Lemon's LemonAid and the modern revival of game show Through The Keyhole. The character has also been seen in his own movie, Keith Lemon: The Film, released in 2012.
The newspaper suggests the sketch show pilot may be called Bang Tidy. In 2011, Francis recorded a similarly titled "shiny floor" studio entertainment pilot for ITV called Keith Lemon's Bang Tidy Show. The trial episode involved "celebrity guests, a talking Orangutan, a door that leads to anywhere, and audience games". Although it was not commissioned, the LemonAid format was partly derived from the pilot.
Celebrity Juice Series 11 starts this Thursday 13th March at 10pm.
In this clip, Keith Lemon takes over a red carpet interview with music star Pixie Lott:
Here is an episode from the variety format Keith Lemon's LemonAid, mixing sketch-like segments with audience interaction, celebrity guests and games: