Keith Lemon joked he might soon be looking for a “normal job” over fears that his show Celebrity Juice is on the brink of being cancelled.
The ITV2 comedy panel show – hosted by super rude character Keith – has been left off the autumn schedule for the first time since 2009.
While pre-recorded specials for Halloween and Christmas will air on ITV2, it’s also said that the broadcaster has not yet commissioned any episodes for 2022.
Keith, played by funnyman Leigh Francis, told the Daily Star : “It’s not on again this year, which is sad. Will it be back again? Who knows?
“I might have to get a real job. Hopefully we’ll be back next year. If not, it’s been a good ride and we’ve had a good time.”
Celebrity Juice, which sees famous faces compete against each other in a series of silly games and challenges, has had 25 series since it began in 2008.
At the height of its success, it won a BAFTA and became ITV2’s most-watched show.
However, ratings have dipped in recent years.
Keith’s other shows Through the Keyhole and The Fantastical Factory Of Curious Craft have already been axed.
The Mirror has contacted ITV for comment.
It comes after Melanie Sykes claimed that Keith made her cry by bombarding her with three hours of sexual jokes while she was filming Through the Keyhole.
(Image: ITV / Talkback Thames)
She was on the show in 2018, and says that Keith made a string of offensive marks towards her throughout the three-hour record, saying there was no way it would have made the edit and that it was therefore only for the benefit of the live audience.
She says that she complained to producers about what happened, and TV sources tell the Mirror that it was taken seriously.
Mel said herself that she was included in the edit of the programme, giving her approval to the final cut that went out on TV.
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Interviewed on the Frankly Speaking podcast with Lynne Franks, Mel said: “I sat there for a three-hour record and he did all of that stuff to me verbally to entertain the live audience — because it was never going to make the edit of the show, because it was a family, Saturday night show, so he used me to entertain the audience.
“I had Jonathan Ross to my right and Ashley Banjo to my left and the first thing that Keith said to me, in character, ‘I bet your a**hole smells of flowers’.”
She added: “It makes me want to cry right now because I was so caught in the headlights and wasn’t expecting it.”
The Mirror has also contacted Keith’s representatives about the claims made by Melanie.