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Leigh Francis: No Regrets For Controversial Past

BBG News

Leigh Francis indicated that he feels no remorse for any of the contentious actions portrayed by his television characters, and revealed aspects of his past roles he might have adjusted differently.

Known primarily for his contentious character Keith Lemon on the ITV program Celebrity Juice and his Bo Selecta series, this 51-year-old comedian is widely recognized.

2020 saw my beloved show “Bo Selecta” vanish from Channel 4’s streaming platform, a decision driven by the representation of esteemed black celebs like Craig David and Trisha Goddard within its content.

After the demise of George Floyd and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, Leigh expressed remorse by tearfully apologizing for any distress caused and admitted that he didn’t fully understand how offensive his actions were at the time.

However, in a recent discussion on the Who We Are Now with Izzy & Richard Hammond podcast, Leigh expressed that he doesn’t harbor any regrets about his past actions, but admitted that if given the opportunity, he might choose to act differently.

He stated: “Let’s skip the preliminaries. Sometimes, folks ask, ‘Have there been actions from your past that you wish you hadn’t done?’ To which I respond, ‘No, I hold no regrets about my past.’ However, if given the chance, would I modify certain things? Most likely.

Leigh pointed out that the rules governing comedy have evolved since his initial rise to prominence, and as a result, he is being more thoughtful in his methods.

He stated: “At that time, you weren’t aware of the rules, and you played according to them because nothing you did was a concern. However, rules can change over time.

‘So you would do it different now, because, you know, some people might be upset by things.’ 

Reflecting on situations, we often realize that our actions may have been incorrect. Conversations with friends might prompt us to acknowledge our mistakes and extend an apology. So, the phrase could be rephrased as: “Looking back, I can see where I went wrong. Talking things over with friends makes me want to make amends for my past actions.

It’s strange because you didn’t intend harm or anything malicious. We never thought, “Aren’t we being rebellious? We’re doing something mischievous here.” Instead, we did it because it seemed amusing. I don’t defend Bo’ Selecta for causing offense, but I do apologize to those who were upset by it.

As a comedian, I always encourage my audience to keep things light-hearted and not to overthink my jokes. In essence, I am a court jester – the most humble and entertaining of roles, whose purpose is to bring joy and laughter. So, sing along, dance, and let yourself be entertained!

You might want to consider my words lightly, since I must clarify that I’m not actually Keith Lemon; instead, I’m merely playing a role.

Despite potential criticism of Keith Lemon as being misogynistic, it’s important to remember that you’re not aligning with his humor, but rather finding amusement in his antics. Essentially, he’s portrayed as a foolish character.

‘He expresses opinions that I wouldn’t dare to utter. However, there are individuals who share similar views, and I find myself chuckling at their audacity… I believe it’s acceptable to laugh at people who make outrageous statements.’

Previously, Leigh’s characters have sparked debate among viewers due to their controversial nature. Later on, he acknowledged that some of the criticism leveled at him was challenging to deal with.

He stated: “Doesn’t it hurt? I believe when someone says things like, ‘You’re a terrible person,’ or similar remarks, one simply responds, ‘I’m not,’ because I’m too foolish.” (This version attempts to maintain the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language.)

‘I prefer not to upset people; instead, I aim to amuse them. I believe that, generally, comedians share this goal – they want to bring joy to others through laughter.’

Previously, Leigh mentioned that the anticipated return of his comedy series “Bo Selecta!” has been postponed, following the creation of a revamped pilot episode for the program.

During a Q&A session on social media, he shared details about his upcoming projects while performing his stand-up act across the United Kingdom.

During an Instagram post, he mentioned that Keith Lemon is a character he will never eliminate. In other words, he doesn’t intend to remove any characters from his repertoire.

Except for instances where it might deeply upset someone, you should stop doing it since humor primarily aims to bring joy and happiness.

Regarding his solo tour, he mentioned: “If you’re craving some comedic antics with a touch of the rubber mask character, look no further! It’s all here, in tour style.

The reinvention follows criticism from Craig David and Trisha Goddard, who accused Leigh of portraying them in a racially insensitive manner on his Channel 4 comedy series, Bo’ Selecta!.

On the program, Leigh portrayed impressions of Craig and various other famous personalities such as Mel B and Trisha Goddard. There were several occurrences involving blackface, for which an apology was issued last year.

Leigh, who was also hosting a radio show on Virgin, expressed: “At age 50, I felt it was the right moment to start living life authentically.

‘Comedy wise, as well, I don’t think character comedy’s in fashion at the minute if I’m honest.’

The comedian remarked: “It seems that sketch shows and panel shows, as comedy genres, are becoming trendy.

Currently, it seems to me that character-based comedy isn’t particularly trendy. However, I could very well be mistaken, as there may likely emerge an extraordinary comedian who captivates us with their unique, engaging character, and we’d all find it terrific.

However, reaching the age of 50 doesn’t mean I’m unaware of my mortality, whether it’s personal or professional life, and there are still things I aspire to accomplish personally.

People often suggested, “Shouldn’t you create an adult-oriented version of Art Attack?” To which I would respond, “But what is an adult version of Art Attack? Am I supposed to paint using my male organ?” In simpler terms, the speaker is asking for a more sophisticated or mature version of the popular children’s TV show ‘Art Attack’, but the response humorously misunderstands the request by suggesting the use of an inappropriate object.

I can create a versatile version suitable for both kids and grown-ups since my work often revolves around ’80s themes. In that case, I usually think, ‘This is more for adults as it comes from the ’80s.’

‘I’d like to do some sort of art programme.’

Currently, “Who We Are Now with Izzy & Richard Hammond” is accessible for listening on Global Player, as well as all prominent streaming platforms.

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2025-01-28 15:00

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