Advertisement

Keith Lemon apologises as 'Celebrity Juice' audience sent home due to coronavirus

Keith Lemon at BUILD for a live discussion at AOL's Capper Street Studio in London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
Keith Lemon was feeling unwell before the 'Celebrity Juice' audience were sent home. (Getty Images)

Keith Lemon has said sorry after the latest recording of Celebrity Juice was called off due to coronavirus concerns.

The live audience for the ITV2 comedy panel show were sent home on Monday night (March 16) following the government update asking people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres.

Lemon, 46, told fans on Instagram: “If you came to Juice tonight it got cancelled ‘cause of what's going on. We've just filmed a comp show just doing links to the best bits of Juice. It was weird without an audience.”

He added: “Two of the guests stayed and everyone else went home. Wash your hands and don't feel compelled to buy toilet paper.”

Read more: Susanna Reid reveals how she plans to spend her 14 days in self-isolation

Lemon - real name Leigh Francis - had previously revealed he was feeling unwell, but had been given the greenlight by a doctor to go ahead with filming.

He said: “I had a really chilled weekend ‘cause I'm not feeling too good but there's no one to fill in for me for Celebrity Juice so they have a medic outside who took my temperature and stuff and apparently I'm alright.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world

Fact-checker: The number of Covid-19 cases in your local area

Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu

“I've got no symptoms of coronavirus. I'm just feeling how you imagine you feel when you go to a gym. I've only ever filmed at a gym.”

TV presenter Joel Dommett was a guest on the show, dressed as singer Billie Eilish with a green wig.

The Masked Singer host wrote on social media: "What a weird evening - went to record @celebjuiceofficial - then the audience were told to go home after Boris' speech.

"Having serious logistic based conversations while dressed as @billieeilish was one of the strangest things I've ever been involved in. Stay safe everyone - keep washing your bits."

Radio DJ Roman Kemp took part in filming without the audience present dressed up as his father, Spandau Ballet singer Gary Kemp.

Read more: Keith Lemon hits out at fake Caroline Flack T-shirts being sold online

Paddy McGuinness, dressed as Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, said: "Well that escalated quickly. We were all set to record @celebjuiceofficial audience in and then we hear Boris Johnson's speech and that was that!"Audience out, show cancelled ... for now!!!! Still I got to spend a bit of time with my boy @keithlemon

"Stay safe, keep an eye out for the elderly and wash them hands!!"

A spokesman for Celebrity Juice told the PA news agency: "Last night it was agreed after careful consideration not to record the show without an audience in the circumstances given the government advice that was being issued as people were gathering in studio."