Leigh Francis is a multi-talented entertainer, known for his work as a stand-up comedian, actor, producer, director, writer, and voice artist. He gained widespread recognition for his creation of the popular show ‘Bo’ Selecta!’ on Channel 4, as well as his portrayal of the beloved character Keith Lemon in various shows. With a string of successful projects under his belt, including ‘Whatever I Want’, ‘Keith Lemon’s LemonAid’, and ‘Lemon La Vida Loca’, Francis has become a household name. Currently, he can be seen as Keith in ‘Through the Keyhole’ and ‘Celebrity Juice’. In addition to his on-screen success, Francis has amassed a large following on Twitter, with over 3.15 million followers. His talent and contributions to the entertainment industry were recognized with a BAFTA Television Award in 2016 for ‘Celebrity Juice’. Leigh Francis continues to captivate audiences and garner the admiration of both fans and fellow celebrities alike.
Quick Facts
- British Celebrities Born In April Age: 50 Years, 50 Year Old Males
- Family: Spouse/Ex-: Jill Carter, children: Matilda Francis
- Actors
- Stand-up Comedians
- Height: 5’10” (178 cm), 5’10” Males
- Education: Farnley Park High School (Today known as The Farnley Academy), Leeds College of Art
Career
Leigh Francis began his career in the entertainment industry with Paramount’s TV series ‘Dom and Kirk’s Nite O’ Plenty’. He then went on to portray the character of Barry Gibson on Channel 4’s ‘Popworld’. Francis also appeared in shorts for the series ‘Stars in Their Houses’ and the television show ‘The Buzz’ in 1998.
His major breakthrough came in 2002 when Channel 4 approached him to create a show based on his TV characters. This led to the creation of ‘Bo’ Selecta!’. Following this success, Francis appeared on ‘The Frank Skinner Show’ and produced another show based on his character Keith Lemon, titled ‘Keith Lemon’s Very Brilliant World Tour’, which aired in April 2008.
Continuing his success, Francis created and hosted the popular show ‘Celebrity Juice’, featuring his character Keith Lemon. The show has had multiple successful seasons and is still running. In 2009, he appeared in the series ‘Loose Women’ and went on to host ‘Keith Lemon’s LemonAid’ and ‘Take Me Out: Celebrity Special’ in subsequent years.
In 2012, Francis started his show ‘Lemon La Vida Loca’, which ran for almost a year. He then hosted ‘Through the Keyhole’, which is still ongoing. From 2015 to 2016, he appeared in ‘The Keith Lemon Sketch Show’ and in 2017, he created a new show called ‘The Keith & Paddy Picture Show’.
Personal Life
Leigh Francis was born on April 30, 1973, in Beeston, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He grew up on a council estate in Leeds and attended Farnley Park High School (now known as The Farnley Academy). Francis later studied graphic design at Leeds College of Art.
In 2002, he married Jill Carter and the couple welcomed a baby girl named Matilda seven years later. Currently, Francis resides in North London with his family.