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Exclusive: Keith Lemon says Emily Atack 'wasn't in the running' for team captain

Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images
Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images

From Digital Spy

Celebrity Juice is back on screens tonight with brand new team captains.

Emily Atack and Laura Whitmore are joining Keith Lemon on the show, replacing Mel B and Holly Willoughby.

Fans of Emily previously wanted her to join the panel when Paddy McGuinness left in 2019 after impressing with her wit and impressions on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.

Photo credit: David Tuck - ITV
Photo credit: David Tuck - ITV

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Keith admitted the former Inbetweeners actress had "never been in the running" for the job previously.

"It's always about mates, Juice," he said. "When Fearne left, me and Holly just went straight away 'should it be Paddy' because we're all friends.

"Then he got busy with Top Gear and then I got told 'what do you think of Michelle Keegan or Mel B'. I said they were both wicked, I don't know what politics happened but Mel B turned up then she got busy with Spice Girls so it was like a rebrand almost."

But fans of the show have no worries about how the new duo will fit in, with Keith adding: "They've fit in straight away.

Photo credit: Jeff Spicer - Getty Images
Photo credit: Jeff Spicer - Getty Images

"I've known them for a long time so it's just like hanging out with my gang, my new TV gang now, it's lovely. Really enjoying it, the girls are so excited, I'm excited they are excited, I love it.

"They are so fun, they are just up for it and having a laugh so I feel they will just breathe new life into it."

Speaking of the games that will be happening on the show (singularly rather than as groups due to social distancing) Keith said his favourites had been "Joel Dommett identifying things with his buttcheeks, and a skid mark race".

"Same childish games, same Juice, same silliness, same fun. It's just a bit of fun on a Thursday night," he added. "It's just nice to take things less serious than when we go out into the world."

Celebrity Juice starts on 22nd October, 10pm on ITV2. Shopping With Keith Lemon starts on 25th October, 10pm on ITV2.


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