Keith Lemon dishes on why pal Holly won't quit This Morning after Phil scandal
Leigh Francis, better known for his alter-ego Keith Lemon, has countless friends in showbiz, including close pal and former colleague Holly Willoughby, who he worked alongside for years on the popular panel show Celebrity Juice with Fearne Cotton. And now, he's shared why he thinks she stood firm in her decision to stay on the This Morning sofa without her ex-co-host Phillip Schofield, after his dramatic exit following his admission of an affair with a younger colleague.
Holly returned to the ITV show earlier this month to present with Alison Hammond, after cooperating in their inquiry amid her insistence she was unaware of the relationship described by Phil as 'unwise but not illegal'. Holly and Phil presented the daytime TV show for more than 13 years together, but since his departure in May, the 42-year-old presenter has cemented herself at the centre of the flagship programme.
Holly, Keith and Fearne presented Celebrity Juice together for 10 yearsIn an interview with MailOnline, Leigh shared his thoughts on why she had returned to host on the famous couch, joking: "They pay well, don't they?" It was recently reported that Holly could expect a pay rise this year, with her salary rumoured to be jumping from £700,000 to £1 million.
Leigh also added: "I'm guessing she still enjoys it, so I think you should leave a show when you don't enjoy it anymore." A source previously told the Mirror that Holly "sees her future very much on the sofa". They said: "Holly is determined to stay put - the only reason she would leave now is if This Morning is axed. She has absolutely no plans to leave."
The comedian also shared the last time he spoke to the 42-year-old presenter. "The last time I saw Holly was on my birthday. I haven't seen her since all the telly drama. April was the last time I saw her in real life," he said. The comedian explained that he "reached out to everyone" after the scandal and texted them to say, 'Are you ok?'
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It comes after Leigh weighed in on the Russell Brand scandal and said he felt 'sad' for both the comedian and the women involved. Brand, 48, has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse at the height of his fame in an investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches - allegations which he vehemently denies.
Speaking to MailOnline, Leigh said: "I promised myself I wouldn't comment on it - it's just sad, isn't it? It's a saddening thing for everyone. It's sad for the ladies, it's sad for his family and it's sad for him." Admitting he fears being cancelled because, "It's easy to offend loads of people," he insisted he doesn't ever worry about being hit with similar claims to those Brand is facing because of his long-term partnership and marriage.
"I've been married to the same lady since I was a little boy," he said of his wife, Jill Carter. "I met my wife when I was 19, and I got married when I was 30 to the same lady, so there's no worry about me getting cancelled for that." Leigh, who was born and raised in Leeds, tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart Jill back in 2002 at Allerton Castle in North Yorkshire, and the couple have two daughters together, Matilda and Dolly.
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