Leigh Francis tells Craig David to 'move on' from Bo Selecta impression that was 'ages ago'

Keith Lemon has told Craig David that it is time to get over the portrayal he made of him on Bo’ Selecta! all those years ago.

Lemon – who is really called Leigh Francis - has apologised in the past for the show, particularly the portrayal of black people such as David, Trisha Goddard, Michael Jackson, and Mel B, but now has hit back at the musician, who recently addressed the character again.

To be fair, the show has been taken off Channel 4’s streaming platform because of certain characters, and it is widely accepted that the whole thing wouldn’t have been made today because of allegations of being ‘racist’ – particularly related to the comedian’s caricatures of black characters, given the fact Francis is white.

Those allegations of racism, it should be said, came from David.

REUTERS/Alamy

He’s also accused the show of ‘bullying’, as well.

If you’re not aware, the show ran in the early 2000s on Channel 4 and saw Francis playing the character of celebrity obsessed stalker Avid Merrion, as well as performing as many popular celebrities of the time, including the aforementioned black characters, but also Marilyn Manson, Lorraine Kelly, and Elton John.

The show was hugely popular at the time, but David has spoken out several times about his character, although Francis said that he believed that the pair had ‘buried the hatchet’ back in 2014 after both were at Fearne Cotton’s wedding.

Gonzales Photo/Alamy

Francis said that the pair had ‘hugged it out’ and that he believed ‘everything was nice’.

But since then, Craig has said that Francis had ‘normalised bullying’ and said that he’d ‘ruined his life’.

Now, responding to that criticism, Francis has encouraged David to move on from the matter, telling The Sun: "Most people are happy with their portrayal on Bo’ Selecta!

“Apart from someone we know who wasn’t.

"The only way it’s ever going to go away from him, if he feels people are going on about it, is to stop talking about it.'

He added: "It’s ages ago, isn’t it? It is, 20 years ago. I wish he wasn’t upset."

Francis had already apologised to the black people that he caricatured back in 2020, stating: "I want to say sorry for any upset I caused whether it was Michael Jackson, Craig David or Trisha Goddard... all people who I am a big fan of.

"I guess we're all on a learning journey."

That’s when Channel 4 decided to remove the show from streaming platform All 4, releasing a statement that said: "We support Leigh in his decision to reflect on Bo' Selecta! in light of recent events and we've agreed with him to remove the show from the All 4 archive."

LADbible has contacted representatives for Leigh Francis and Craig David for further comment.