Comedian Leigh Francis recently reflected on a memorable encounter with one of his lifelong heroes, artist David Hockney, during an exhibition in London in 2023. Known predominantly for his alter ego Keith Lemon on shows such as Celebrity Juice and Through the Keyhole, Francis described feeling star-struck when Hockney, who passed away earlier this year at age 88, asked to meet him at the Bigger & Closer immersive show at the Lightroom gallery.
Francis, 53, recounted being surprised that Hockney was familiar with his work, as the artist mentioned he used to watch Celebrity Juice. Accompanied by friends from his hometown of Leeds and fellow actor Keith Allen, Francis seized the opportunity to take a photo with Hockney before the fire alarm at the venue interrupted the meeting. Reflecting on the moment, Francis called Hockney a "Jedi" and "master," emphasizing the artist’s lasting influence on him, having once written a thesis about Hockney during his studies in graphic design and advertising at Jacob Kramer College in Leeds.
In addition to this encounter, Francis shared other experiences of celebrity admiration, mentioning that meeting figures such as Patsy Kensit, Vic Reeves, and Emma Bunton also left him star-struck before eventually befriending them. Discovered as a stand-up comedian in the 1990s and rising to prominence with the Channel 4 sketch show Bo’Selecta! in the early 2000s, Francis launched his successful television career through his creation of various comedic alter egos, with Keith Lemon becoming his signature character.
Beyond his television work, Francis is now revisiting his origins in visual art with his first-ever exhibition titled When I’m Not Titting About On Telly, scheduled to open on September 4 at the 1853 Studios & Gallery in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The exhibition will feature a selection of approximately 20 paintings, predominantly portraits of figures like Elvis Presley, Kylie Minogue, and Boy George, drawn from a larger collection of over 70 pieces. Although Francis has only sold two paintings in his life, he expressed enthusiasm for displaying his art publicly after the gallery proprietor extended an invitation.
Francis also touched on his current outlook, noting a slowing pace of life as he enters his 50s. He reported drinking less alcohol than in his younger days and expressed contentment with his career achievements, stating that returning to Celebrity Juice is unlikely due to his age. He said that reaching 50 felt like a milestone and described any future opportunities as a “cherry on the cake.” He lives in North London with his wife Jill Carter, whom he has been with since his teens in Leeds, and their two daughters, Matilda and Dolly. Despite his public profile, Francis revealed his children are largely indifferent to his fame but remain curious when he encounters celebrities they admire.
In addition to his ongoing creative ventures, Francis continues to perform live comedy, DJ at festivals, produce content for his YouTube channel, and present on Virgin Radio, maintaining a diverse presence in the entertainment industry.