Keith Lemon fears Celebrity Juice’s future as show absent from ITV schedule after Melanie Sykes claims

Keith Lemon has cast doubt over the future of Celebrity Juice, saying he might soon be looking for a ‘normal job’.

The comedian’s ITV2 show has been left out of the channel’s autumn schedule just days after Melanie Sykes claimed she ‘cried all night’ after appearing on his other series Through The Keyhole.

‘It’s not on again this year, which is sad,’ Keith, real name Leigh Francis, said. ‘Will it be back again? Who knows?’

‘I might have to get a real job,’ he added to the Daily Star. ‘Hopefully we’ll be back next year. If not, it’s been a good ride and we’ve had a good time.’

An ITV spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘Celebrity Juice will be back on ITV2 later in the year.’

It’s understood that there are also Celebrity Juice seasonal specials in the works, with ITV2 set to reveal its plan for the new year in due course.

Celebrity Juice has aired 25 series since it began in 2008 and sees Keith and team captains Emily Atack and Laura Whitmore play games with a number of celebrity guests.

In March, Maya Jama joined the programme as a regular panellist.

Last week, Melanie said she was reduced to tears after Keith ‘used her to entertain the audience’ during an episode of Through The Keyhole in 2018.

‘I went into the studio and I didn’t think Keith was going to be like he was on the other show that he does [Celebrity Juice] where it’s all sex and blowjobs and talking about people’s a*seholes and all that,’ Melanie told the Frankly Speaking with Lynne Franks’ podcast.

‘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 actual show, because it was a family, Saturday night show, so he used me to entertain the audience.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted Keith’s rep for comment.

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