24 September 2023 , 10:35
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Leigh Francis, known for his outrageous alter ego Keith Lemon, is accused of making 'humiliating jokes' at Melanie Sykes ' expense while shooting ITV's Through The Keyhole. Speaking two years ago, Melanie alleged her complaints to telly bosses were 'ignored'.
Melanie claimed Leigh made explicit sexual gags about her for three hours in front of a live audience in 2018. Including: "I bet your a*****e smells of flowers." The TV presenter says her concerns weren't acknowledged by production bosses at Talkback, founded by comedy duo Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.
"I went into the studio and I didn't think Keith was going to be like he was on the other show he does [Celebrity Juice] where it's all sex and blowjobs and talking about people's a*******s," she told fashion PR Lynne Franks' podcast, Frankly Speaking in 2021.
Leigh presented Celebrity Juice before it was axed by ITV in 2022 (ITV / TALKBACK TV)
Melanie claims Leigh made sexual gags about her for hours (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)"I sat there for a three-hour record and he did all that stuff to me verbally to entertain the live audience — because it was never going to make the edit of the show – so he used me to entertain the audience," says Mel.
"So for three hours I struggled through that. I got home that night and I cried all night and I rang my agent in the morning and told him about my experience and I said, 'I don't know what I'm going to do about it'. So I rang the head of the production company, and said, 'Can you make sure in the edit I don't look out of my depth, angry or upset, because I don't have a poker face, because it's detrimental to me'.
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"And she agreed for me to part of the edit and I would approve the edit, and I said, 'It was a terrible experience' she said, 'you're the first person that has ever complained about him' and I said, ' I don't care' and this was before MeToo, so it wasn't like I felt strongly because of it. I said 'you and I know that there are loads of women who don't say anything, it doesn't mean it's not happening'.
"So all of these things can hit the cutting room floor but my experience still lives and breathes, it still lives and breathes now."
Responding to Mel's past complaint, a spokesperson for production company Talkback told The Mirror today [September 24]: "Looking after those who appear on our shows is a top priority and we always strive to ensure our guests feel comfortable and happy during filming.
They added: "Whilst Through the Keyhole hasn’t been on air since 2019, we continually review and evolve our company welfare processes with the aim for everyone to feel supported." The Mirror has also contacted representatives for Leigh for comment.
Melanie's accusations resurfacing on social media come after Katherine Ryan, who recently called out Russell Brand, said Francis was an "obvious creep" at the TV Choice Awards back in 2019. At the time she claimed Keith Lemon was "proof for perverts everywhere that an obvious creep is cute.
"It's way less threatening than a stealth one". Leigh hosted Celebrity Juice for 25 seasons before it was axed earlier in 2022. Celebrity Juice was investigated by Ofcom, which ruled that a trailer for the show breached guidelines in 2013 after featuring what they said was a sex toy.