Leigh Francis
Encyclopedia
Leigh Szaak Francis is an English
impressionist born in Leeds
. He is best known for his work as the creator of Channel 4's Bo' Selecta!
, and for his portrayal of Keith Lemon
for several ITV
programmes. Francis lives in Camden Town
, London, and on October 31, 2003, at Allerton Castle
, North Yorkshire
, he married Jill Carter, a beauty therapist. Their first daughter, Matilda, was born in February 2009.
, West Yorkshire
, and brought up on a council estate
in Old Farnley
, Leeds. His father died aged 47 of cancer
, and his mother and sister live in Spain. Francis attended Farnley Park Maths & Computer College, formerly Harrington High School in Leeds. He later studied at the Leeds College of Art and received a qualification in graphic design. Before making his major television breakthrough, he was discovered and encouraged by television presenter Davina McCall
, performing in-role stand up comedy in a Southern comedy club. McCall landed Francis his first television role on Dom and Kirk's Nite O Plenty, where he portrayed Bobby Stark, a man who gives tips on how to win over the ladies. The series aired on Paramount Television
from January to July 1996. Francis' second television role was as Barry Gibson, a music paparazzo, featured on the early series of Channel 4
's Popworld
.
, which aired on ITV2 in April 2008. The series was a success, and subsequently, Francis created another new show featuring Lemon, Celebrity Juice, which has aired six series to date. Lemon has also co-hosted Sing if You Can, and is due to have his own brand new ITV1 Saturday night series, The Bang Tidy Show. In November 2011, it was revealed that Lemon would make his feature film debut in Keith Lemon: The Film, with production starting later that month.
, Loose Women
and Big Brother's Little Brother.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
impressionist born in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. He is best known for his work as the creator of Channel 4's Bo' Selecta!
Bo' Selecta!
Bo' Selecta! is a British sketch show written and performed by Leigh Francis, known for its often deeply surreal, abstract toilet humour, which lampoons popular culture. It was broadcast on Channel 4 and ran for three series between 2002 and 2004, spawning several spin-offs...
, and for his portrayal of Keith Lemon
Keith Lemon
-Background:In an interview, Francis claimed that Lemon is loosely based on his best friend. The character is easily distinguished by hiscamp demeanour, exaggerated Yorkshire accent, bleached mullet, ginger moustache and fake tan...
for several ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
programmes. Francis lives in Camden Town
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
, London, and on October 31, 2003, at Allerton Castle
Allerton Castle
Allerton Castle, formerly "Allerton Park" is a Grade I listed nineteenth century Gothic or Victorian Gothic house at Allerton Mauleverer in North Yorkshire, England...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, he married Jill Carter, a beauty therapist. Their first daughter, Matilda, was born in February 2009.
Early life
Francis was born on 30 May 1973 in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, and brought up on a council estate
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
in Old Farnley
Old Farnley
Farnley village , is a district in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Farnley is 2 miles south west of Leeds city centre, between Wortley, Bramley and surrounding countryside, in the LS12 Leeds postcode area. The village was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book as Fernelei...
, Leeds. His father died aged 47 of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and his mother and sister live in Spain. Francis attended Farnley Park Maths & Computer College, formerly Harrington High School in Leeds. He later studied at the Leeds College of Art and received a qualification in graphic design. Before making his major television breakthrough, he was discovered and encouraged by television presenter Davina McCall
Davina McCall
Davina McCall is an English television presenter and actress, most notable as the presenter of the UK version of Big Brother up until its move to Channel 5.- Early life :...
, performing in-role stand up comedy in a Southern comedy club. McCall landed Francis his first television role on Dom and Kirk's Nite O Plenty, where he portrayed Bobby Stark, a man who gives tips on how to win over the ladies. The series aired on Paramount Television
Paramount Television
Paramount Television was an American television production/distribution company that was active from January 1, 1968 to August 27, 2006.Its successor is CBS Television Studios, formerly CBS Paramount Television...
from January to July 1996. Francis' second television role was as Barry Gibson, a music paparazzo, featured on the early series of Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Popworld
Popworld
Popworld was a British television programme that was broadcast on Channel 4, offering pop news, trivia, gossip, interviews and music videos, as well as musical performances from the most recent top artists....
.
Career
His major TV breakthrough occurred when Channel 4 offered him a £250,000 deal to produce a series based around his portrayal of television characters, such as his previous roles as Bobby Stark and Barry Gibson, and in 2002, Bo' Selecta! was born. The series featured Francis portraying a series of celebrities by wearing face masks to impersonate them, and well as portraying the main, non-celebrity character, Avid Merrion. The programme lasted for five series, airing between 2002 and 2006, however, the last two series were only loosely based on the original three. Following the axing of Bo' Selecta", Francis took one of the series characters, Keith Lemon, and created a brand new show, Keith Lemon's Very Brilliant World TourKeith Lemon's Very Brilliant World Tour
Keith Lemon's Very Brilliant World Tour was a travel-style comedy series hosted by Keith Lemon, a character portrayed by comedian Leigh Francis. The series was first announced during an appearance by Lemon on the Big Brother companion show Big Brother's Big Mouth in 2007...
, which aired on ITV2 in April 2008. The series was a success, and subsequently, Francis created another new show featuring Lemon, Celebrity Juice, which has aired six series to date. Lemon has also co-hosted Sing if You Can, and is due to have his own brand new ITV1 Saturday night series, The Bang Tidy Show. In November 2011, it was revealed that Lemon would make his feature film debut in Keith Lemon: The Film, with production starting later that month.
Characterisation
Francis is known to conduct nearly every interview with the press in one of his celebrity guises, being as Avid Merrion during Bo' Selecta's run between 2002 and 2006, and as ever since. In an interview given in an episode of Map of Britain, Francis, for the first time out-of-character, cs accent and dialects were inspired by his former teacher at the Leeds College of Art, Laimonis Mierins. He also pointed out that Merrion is a mis-spelling of Mierins and is nothing to do with the Merrion Centre in Leeds, which many people assume. Many people do not understand that Merrion and Lemon are fictional creations, and consequently, Francis' name means very little to the general public. He did conduct further interviews as himself for The Frank Skinner ShowThe Frank Skinner Show
The Frank Skinner Show was a television chat show hosted by comedian Frank Skinner which lasted nine series on British television between 1995 and 2005.It was screened on BBC One from its first episode on 10 September 1995 until 3 June 1999....
, Loose Women
Loose Women
Loose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
and Big Brother's Little Brother.