Keith Lemon has admitted he became ’emotional’ when filming the final ever episode of as the panel show comes to an end after 14 years.
The comedian, 49, who hosts the long-running comedy series, reflected on having to say goodbye to the programme after its impressive 26-series run.
He admitted he felt ‘sad’ about the show ending and became ’emotional’ when filming the last episode, titled Celebrity Juice: The Happy Ending.
Sad times: Keith Lemon has admitted he became ’emotional’ when filming the final ever episode of Celebrity Juice as the ITV panel show comes to an end after 14 years
However, the final episode is set to be as amusing as ever as it features the team captains forming a girl band, Emily Atack stealing a kiss with Joey Essex and Holly Willoughby falling over.
Keith, whose real name is Leigh Francis, said: ‘It’s been 14 years of me life.Maya Jama, who’s on the last episode told me she started watching it when she was seven.
‘Not sure what a seven-year-old is doing watching Juice, she should’ve been in bed! But yeah that made me feel old.
‘I guess when I look back I’ll think aye, that was a big part of me life.It’s rare to do a show for that long, but by eck it was fun! The best times! I do feel a bit sad but it’s also exciting to see what happens next!’
Farewell! The comedian (pictured in the upcoming last episode), 49, who hosts comedy series, reflected on having to say goodbye to the programme after its impressive 26-series run
As well as Maya Jama appearing as a guest, he was also joined for the last episode – set to air at 10pm on Thursday on ITV2 – by team captains Laura Whitmore and Emily Atack.
Original captains Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton also made their return to the show while Chris Ramsey, Will Mellor and Joey Essex starred as guests in the special.
Reflecting on saying goodbye to the show, Keith admitted he ‘teared up’ and hugged his wife Jill Carter when he came off stage after they wrapped up filming.
‘I got a bit emotional at the end.I don’t think that bit is in. I was in like some kind of emotional bubble,’ he continued.
Overwhelmed: He admitted he felt ‘sad’ about the show ending and became ’emotional’ when filming the last episode, titled Celebrity Juice: The Happy Ending
Reflecting: Keith also said he felt ‘old’ when Maya Jama, who appears on the final episode (pictured), told him she watched the show when she was just seven years old
‘It was a bit like a dream, but I was trying to cherish the day.I came off stage and just hugged my wife and teared up. It’s making me tear up now just thinking about it.’
Keith described filming the final episode with guests from over the years as a ‘great party’, teasing that there will be a few surprise appearances in the special.
He also reflected on Celebrity Juice’s 2008 launch, when Holly and Fearne were team captains, saying they quickly found a ‘chemistry’ and became a ‘dysfunctional family’.
When asked why the show was such a success, he said: ‘When me, Holly and Fearne first got together we didn’t really know each other.Well Holly and Fearne were already mates obviously.
Familiar faces: Original captains Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton made their return to the show for Celebrity Juice: The Happy Ending, which will air on Thursday at 10pm on ITV2
Guests: Team captain Laura Whitmore also appeared on the final show alongside Maya and Chris Ramsey
‘But I guess it was the chemistry between us.We were like this dysfunctional family and each found our roles really quickly.
‘Kelly Brook stood in for Fearne and she’s a mate, I did a film with her, Paddy did a series as a captain and he’s a proper mate, and Mel B! Another mate.
‘And then Emily and Laura came in who I’ve been mates with for years.It was all about friends having a fun time and I think people enjoy watching people having fun.
‘I’ll miss it loads and I’ll miss meeting all of those wonderful guests that we had on over the years.’
Funny moments: The episode will see team captains Emily and Laura, and returning captains Holly and Fearne, all uniting to form a supergroup and sing
But Keith also admitted he doesn’t want it to be the end for the long-running series, saying he would like to return for one-off specials in the future.
He added: ‘[Celebrity Juice] ran for a long time and came to its natural end.I’d love to do the odd special or some kind of live thing that’s in a similar vein to Juice. It was so fun. But who knows?’
But Keith also shared that he has some different things planned in his career now, saying he would like to take part in a live art show or try ‘straight acting’ in the future.
When asked what was next for him, Keith joked: ‘That’s it – I’m gonna go live in the woods with the Ewoks!’
Good times: Keith described filming the final episode with guests from over the years as a ‘great party’, teasing that there will be a few surprise appearances in the special
Guests: Will Mellor and Big Narstie have also made up the panel on the upcoming final episode of Celebrity Juice
Before adding: ‘I don’t know.I’m having fun at the mo recording a podcast called Back Then When with me mate Lucie Cave. There’s a couple of things bubbling.
‘I’d really like to do some kind of art show. I do a lot of ‘making’ on my YouTube channel ‘Keith Lemon’s Doings’ and Insta, and a lot of people keep saying ‘Keith why don’t you do an adult version of Art Attack’?
‘An adult version? Not sure what that means.But yeah I’d also like to explore some kind of live thing. I’ve not really done live stuff.
‘I don’t mean like stand up but some kind of thing on stage. Or actually straight acting. Who’s knows? But for now it’s Christmas!’
Singing: One teaser clip shows team captains Emily, Laura Whitmore, Holly and Fearne all creating a supergroup to sing Shania Twain’s Man! I Feel Like A Woman
It was , with the final episode airing on Thursday, ahead of a compilation episode, called Celebrity Juice: The Last Hurrah, airing on December 15.
The final episode will see former captains Holly and Fearne return to the show to bid it farewell along with an array of other familiar faces.
And teaser clips prove that the much-anticipated episode will be as much fun as ever as it sees the stars play an array of games, sing and enjoy an array of comic moments.
In one clip, This Morning host Holly is hilariously seen falling during one game as she tries to carry a piece of cardboard back to her desk.
Amusing: Other humorous moments see Maya Jama play the wibbly wobbly game and Emily Atack and Joey Essex even share a sneaky kiss backstage
The stars are all seen battling in the audience to race to take two pieces of cardboard back to the stage as quickly as possible.
Holly is seen jostling with Fearne in a bid to steal the cardboard before turning to race back towards the stage, before awkwardly falling straight down the stairs.
Another teaser clip also shows team captains Emily, Laura Whitmore, Holly and Fearne all creating a supergroup to sing Shania Twain’s Man! I Feel Like A Woman.
All dressed in red cowboy hats, Fearne reveals that their group is called the Reverse Cowgirls, before Emily says they will be showing their ‘secret’ singing and line-dancing skills.
Farewell! (L-R) Will Mellor, Big Narstie, Emily Atack, Keith Lemon, Laura Whitmore, Maya Jama and Chris Ramsey all mark the final episode of Celebrity Juice
