Comedian Leigh Francis has cast doubt on his future TV career, explaining that he doesn’t know whether he will be back on the box.
The Celebrity Juice star, 52, took to Instagram live on Thursday morning to clear up reports about a previous Q&A with fans on the social media site, in which he suggested his future in TV is up in the air.
‘Juice will never come back,’ he said today while talking about his most famous comedy show, which he hosted as his outrageous – and sometimes controversial – alter-ego Keith Lemon.
While saying some reports took his words ‘out of context’, Leigh explained: ‘Someone asked me when I’m back on TV and I said I don’t know.’
After suggesting he’s got a mystery project lined up in October – it’s not clear whether this is TV or stage – he continued: ‘I did say it’s pretty difficult doing things these days without offending people.’
While he’s got ideas, Leigh said: ‘I don’t think comedy is commissioned as easily as back in the day.’
A Metro reporter was present for the Instagram Live this morning, and asked Leigh if he was scared of being cancelled.
‘Not really. I’m not really interested,’ Leigh replied. ‘I could get cancelled now if I say something horrible, but it’s not in my soul to say something horrible.
‘I try and stay away from any of that business I guess. People can get offended by all sorts these days can’t they? Different times.’
He continued: ‘There’s not as much comedy these days because people are scared of offending people.’
In the previous Instagram Live, the Daily Mail reported Leigh revealed he hasn’t been shopping around new TV ideas for ‘ages’ and has even been turning down offers.
It was also reported he told fans in the chat: ‘I don’t know when I’ll be on TV again.
‘I turned something down this morning. I haven’t pitched any ideas for TV shows in ages.
‘If I do and someone likes it then I’ll be back but if I don’t, I won’t.’
It was also reported Leigh slammed people who call him Keith rather than his actual name, admitting is ‘p***** him off’.
‘It’s not my name, I keep saying it… my name is Leigh. You might as well call me Tony,’ he reportedly said.
While the comedian rubbished the idea of bringing back his show Through The Keyhole – which he said ‘will never happen’ – he’d be more open to a sketch show if it wasn’t for the constant backlash.
He explained: ‘It’s gone mad, you can’t make anything without it upsetting people.
‘If you think you’re gonna be offended you shouldn’t watch but I can’t be bothered to get into this deep conversation.’
Last year Leigh dismissed calls for a Bo Selecta! comeback, having played celebrity-obsessed Avid Merrion in the sketch show from 2002 until 2009.
He said on another Instagram Live: ‘It’ll never happen. I guess that’s because of society, but it will 100% never happen. It’s a shame.’
And Leigh previously claimed Celebrity Juice was axed because ‘nothing is acceptable any more’.
He told The Sun: ‘Just as fashion and flared trousers have come back around however many times, comedy tastes change.
‘Now, nothing is acceptable any more — we had “the rules were the rules” in past times, and they’re different now, so of course there are things back then that you wouldn’t do any more.
‘You don’t set out to offend anyone, you just set out to make people laugh, but for me, now when I come up with an idea, it has to be a straight one, with just a bit of silliness.’
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