24/12/2020
“Shopping with Keith Lemon” has been one of the surprise hits of the last few months for ITV-2, the youth network operated by Independent Television Incorporated in the UK. In it, Mr Lemon, who is an alter ego of comedian Leigh Francis – whose scabrous early noughties series “Bo Selecta!” for Channel Four is still quoted by many a drunk gay man on a night out – goes out to various attractions and activities with assorted celebrities. In the ensuing interviews, we learn a surprising amount about people who have included Richard Blackwood, Howard Donald from “Take That” and Radio 1 personality Maya Jama. On Christmas Eve, Keith Lemon joins gay and trans ally Richard Madeley as they shop for Christmas essentials. Mr Madeley is an agony columnist for a national newspaper and Pink News noted in December that he wrote that “trans children deserve uncritical support”. He also advocated reconciliation and discussion about transgenderism and urged anti-trans people to be less strident, whilst at the same time commenting that “trans issues are relatively new in society”. He said “We should give ourselves time to consider them thoughtfully, without heat or recrimination”. Richard Madely joins Keith Lemon at 10.25pm on ITV-2, which is available on many platforms and TV streaming services throughout the UK and Ireland.
