Keith Lemon has hinted he won’t shy away from bringing back Bo Selecta characters (Picture: Dave Benett/WireImage)
It looks as though Leigh Francis’ controversial show Bo Selecta could soon be finding its way back onto screens.
The funnyman has confirmed that Avid Merion and The Bear from Bo Selecta could be returning 13 years since the show was was last on Channel 4.
Speaking to The Sun, Francis – also known as Keith Lemon – said: ‘Avid Merrion is wandering around somewhere.
‘He’s a bit different though, he’s grown up. The Bear was in the pilot too. I don’t know if he’ll stick around, it’s all in the hands of the TV Gods.’
Back in 2020, the Channel 4 pulled all Bo Selecta episodes from its streaming services following backlash and accusations of racism, with Francis himself reflecting on his characters.
Bo Selecta saw Francis portray black characters such as Craig David and Trisha Goddard while wearing over the top latex masks.
Bo Selecta saw Lemon portray black characters such as Craig David and Trisha Goddard while wearing over the top latex masks. (Picture: Channel 4)
Speaking in the wake of George Floyd’s death and the Black Lives Matter movement, Lemon said in a tearful social media video: ‘It’s been a weird few days, I’ve sat and thought about things and what I could post to try and help things.
‘Back in 2002 I did a show called Bo Selecta, I portrayed many black people. Back then I didn’t think anything about it, people didn’t say anything, I’m not going to blame other people.
‘Been talking to some people, I didn’t realise how offensive it was back then.’
He added: ‘I just want to apologise, I just want to say sorry for any upset I caused whether I was Michael Jackson, Craig David, Trisha Goddard, all people I’m a big fan of. I guess we’re all on a learning journey.’
Craig David previously said Lemon’s portrayal of him in Bo Selecta was bullying (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
David previously lambasted Francis’ portrayal of him in Bo Selecta as bullying, telling BBC Breakfast: ‘When the Bo Selecta show was out, that period of time was hard processing for me.
‘I didn’t know why a song like ‘Rewind’ – which was a cultural song that broke the ice for so many artists to come through – was now being ridiculed.’
He continued: ‘That was one thing, that I placed it as a music thing. But actually what [Francis] was doing was slowly bullying not only myself but Mel B [and] Trisha, and I felt there was no real accountability at that time.’
Metro.co.uk has approached Francis and Channel 4 for comment.
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Leigh Francis has seemingly confirmed one of his most controversial shows could return.
