ITV axes comedian's reality show after four series' despite top celebrity guest line-up

ITV has axed a reality TV show hosted by a popular comedian.

The programme saw special celebrity guests join shopaholic Keith Lemon on the high street to shop and chat. Each episode of the show featured Lemon, whose real name is Leigh Francis, asking two celebrities to join him on a shopping trip while he learns more about their lives and shopping habits. It gave viewers have the chance to see how famous faces spend their money, and enjoy Lemon’s unique comedic interviewing style.

A number of celebs appeared on ‘Shopping with Keith Lemon’, including Mel B, Amanda Holden, Olly Murs and Danny Dyer, among others. It first aired on ITV2 and ITVX on 2019 and ran for four seasons.

The cancellation of ‘Shopping with Keith Lemon’ is just the latest project fronted by the funny man which has come to an end. In April, he confirmed that ‘The Keith and Paddy Picture Show’, a parody series starring himself and fellow comedian Paddy McGuinness, had been axed. Each episode saw the pair attempt to recreate an iconic film, with help from a celebrity cast including Michelle Keegan, Ant and Dec, Louise Redknapp and David Dickinson. The show was last on our screens in 2018, but Lemon has only recently spoken about it.

Media personality Leigh Francis is better known by his alter ego Keith Lemon - and he’s made a name for himself for more than the last two decades, thanks to his outspoken, outlandish, brash and quirky ways as that persona. The 51-year-old is a presenter, comedian, actor and writer. He was discovered by television presenter Davina McCall, who spotted him when he was doing stand-up comedy in the late 1990s. His television career followed.

Francis is best known for creating and starring in Channel 4's sketch comedy show Bo' Selecta! (2002–2009) and presenting the ITV shows Celebrity Juice (2008–2022) and Through the Keyhole (2013–2019). His other comedy shows include Lemon La Vida Loca (2012–2013), The Keith Lemon Sketch Show (2015–2016), and The Keith and Paddy Picture Show (2017–2018). Most recently, he has presented The Real Dirty Dancing (2022) and Shopping with Keith Lemon (2019 to present).

Francis has also been interviewed as himself on a few TV shows, including The Frank Skinner Show, Loose Women, Big Brother's Little Brother, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, and Sunday Brunch. He usually adopts the guise of Keith Lemon, however.

Fans of Lemon need not fear though, as ‘Shopping with Keith Lemon’ is still available to watch on ITVX.