Celebrity Juice ends after 14 years on air
- After 26 series on air, ITV2 panel show Celebrity Juice is to end with two final highlights specials
- Leigh Francis, who plays Keith Lemon, says: "It was the longest most fun party! I had a wonderful time"
- However, Shopping With Keith Lemon is set to return to ITV2 later this year for a third series
Leigh Francis has confirmed that his long-running panel show Celebrity Juice is to end later this year, with two farewell specials.
The format launched on ITV2 in 2008 and has since run for 26 series. The last ten-part series aired on the channel between March and May of this year, with the final episode seeing Lemon promise viewers to "see you next year".
However, Francis - who hosts the show in character as Keith Lemon - has now announced via his social media accounts the show will be coming to an end.
Posting the same message on his personal and Keith Lemon Twitter feeds alongside a highlights video, he thanked viewers for watching, adding "It was the longest most fun party! I had a wonderful time".
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Regular panellists and team captains who joined Francis on screen over the 14 years include Holly Willoughby, Fearne Cotton, Mel B, Gino D'Acampo, Paddy McGuinness, Kelly Brook, Maya Jama and Rufus Hound, with Emily Atack and Laura Whitmore the current team captain pairing.
In a statement, ITV said: "After an incredible 26 series on ITV2, the multi award-winning Celebrity Juice is going out on a high! The outrageous, channel defining panel-show which has been hosted for 14 years by the one and only Keith Lemon, is to conclude later this year with two fantastic farewell specials celebrating all of Juice's maddest moments.
"Across nearly 300 episodes, the BAFTA and National Television Award winning show has seen Keith play the wildest games and share the biggest laughs on telly with famous faces from Ed Sheeran to Pamela Anderson to Will Mellor. Original team captains Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton started the Juice party with Keith way back in 2008. The wonderful Emily Atack and Laura Whitmore took on the mantle full-time in Series 24, but before that Juice featured a fantastic roster of team captains including Gino D'Acampo, Mel B, Paddy McGuinness and Kelly Brook.
"Keith, who has been the face of ITV2 for the past decade, will continue to appear on our teleboxes with Shopping With Keith Lemon, which returns to ITV2 and ITV Hub later this year. Now in its third series, a whole new set of celebrities will be spending some quality time with Keith Lemon, unearthing some fascinating insights into the lives of some of the most recognisable faces."
Whilst it has yet to be officially confirmed, it is believed Francis will also film more episodes of Bo' Selecta!, the sketch show format he made between 2002 and 2009.
In a longer statement issued in a press release, the character Keith Lemon said: "I remember doing the first episode thinking wow that was fun! In the V/O in opening titles I said it was the best telly show on telly. Whatever you thought of it, it was definitely the best fun making it. An amazing team, and amazing guests, but all good things must come to an end. I'll miss it, and everyone so much, but on to the next chapter and I look forward to going out in style on the specials! All t' best and good luck with ya business!"
Jonno Richards from Talkback, the production company that makes the show, says: "Celebrity Juice has been the best show on telly! We cannot be prouder to have made Juice with Keith for the past 14 years. We'll forever miss the madness and mayhem but look forward to giving Juice the send-off it deserves, as well as seeing Shopping back on ITV2 later this year."
Paul Mortimer from ITV2 concludes: "Celebrity Juice and Keith have become firm favourites in the ITV2 schedule over the years, with Keith's no holds barred humour and outrageous antics redefining the comedy panel show experience. It's safe to say Celebrity Juice certainly won't be forgotten in a hurry, and we'd like to thank all of the team at Talkback, and of course Keith and all of our team captains over the years for making Juice the infectious TV hit it's become."