Holly Willoughby shocked fans earlier this month after revealing she had quit Celebrity Juice after 12 years.
And now the ITV2 show’s host Keith Lemon has admitted that the future of the programme is uncertain following her exit as he admitted: ‘I don’t know what the future of Celebrity Juice is at the moment.’
The comedian, 47, also revealed that he believes Holly and former captain Fearne Cotton left Celebrity Juice because they ‘grew up’.
Unsure: Celebrity Juice host Keith Lemon has admitted that the future of the programme is uncertain following Holly Willoughby’s exit
In an interview on HELLO! magazine’s Instagram show HELLO! Let’s Gab, the presenter told how he’s been inundated with queries about who will be replacing Holly.
However, he’s still uncertain what’s next for the comedy panel show as he’s been in lots of ‘meetings’ with show bosses.
He explained: ‘Everyone keeps asking me who the new captain is but I don’t know what the future of Celebrity Juice is at the moment, it’s a lot of meetings.’
Moving on: Holly Willoughby shocked fans earlier this month after revealing she had quit Celebrity Juice after 12 years (pictured in 2012)
When asked if the show would definitely be coming back for another series, the star hesitated before answering.
He then said: ‘It’s a lot of meetings. I’m probably supposed to say it’s meant to come back, lead with positive words but we’ve got to get it right, the next phase has to be right I guess.’
Meanwhile Keith went on to discuss both Holly and Fearne’s departures, with the latter quitting the show in 2018.
Time to go: The comedian, 47, also revealed that he believes Holly and former captain Fearne Cotton left Celebrity Juice because they ‘grew up’ (pictured in 2008)
He explained that he ‘wasn’t surprised’ by their decisions as they have both ‘grown up’.
‘It wasn’t a surprise if I’m honest,’ he said of Holly’s choice to leave.
‘She’s so busy, she’s doing This Morning, Dancing on Ice, a new show with Bradley Walsh and she has been doing Juice for 12 years and I think what happened is Holly and Fearne grew up, and I didn’t.
‘They have to go and do what they have to do as grownups but I still have fun on a Wednesday night filming Celebrity Juice.’
Future unknown: He explained: ‘Everyone keeps asking me who the new captain is but I don’t know what the future of Celebrity Juice is at the moment, it’s a lot of meetings;’
Farewell: ‘I think what happened is Holly and Fearne grew up, and I didn’t. They have to go and do what they have to do as grownups but I still have fun on a Wednesday night filming Celebrity Juice’
Meanwhile, Holly revealed that she fully intends to return to the show as a guest, in scenes from Thursday’s Celebrity Juice.
The TV presenter, 39, promised co-star Keith she would be back for ‘special occasions’ as they reflected on her time in the special episode, titled Show Us Your Best Bits.
Speaking to each other via video-link from their homes, Keith said: ‘We’ve had some fun times over the past 12 years, haven’t we?’
While Holly reminisced: ‘We really have, we’ve laughed a lot.’
Keith added that he was going to miss Holly, and she gushed: ‘I know, I’m going to miss you too… lots!’
Assurance: Meanwhile, Holly promised Keith she WILL return for a special appearance on Celebrity Juice in scenes set to air on Thursday night’s episode Show Us Your Best Bits
Hoping she would return, Keith asked: ‘Will you come back on special appearances on my birthday or something like that?’
To which Holly promised: ‘Absolutely, like try and keep me away, I will be back.
‘Obviously I wont be team captain anymore because that will go to someone very very lucky but I will be back on the panel, I’ll come and play stupid games with you.’
It comes after Keith admitted that he nearly quit Celebrity Juice after he was left ‘gutted’ over Holly’s shock exit.
Keith and Holly started presenting the show alongside Fearne, who left in 2018, in 2008 – meaning Keith is the last man standing from the original lineup.
Request: Hoping she would return, Keith asked: ‘Will you come back on special appearances on my birthday or something like that?’
For sure: Holly promised: ‘Absolutely, like try and keep me away, I will be back… I will be back on the panel, I’ll come and play stupid games with you’