It looks like a Bo’ Selecta! reboot is in the works featuring Leeds’ very own Leigh Francis. The controversial comedy series could well be returning as he has shot a brand new pilot in hopes of a season being greenlit.
The show, which ran from 2002 to 2009 featured Francis playing the character Avid Merrion, a stalk obsessed with celebrities where Francis would wear exaggerated latex masks of celebrities and perform sketches.
Francis created the popular show Bo’ Selecta, a sketch show in which he would portray parody versions of celebrities. Francis revealed the news to The Sun saying: “Avid Merrion is wandering around somewhere.
“He’s a bit different though, he’s grown up. The Bear was in the pilot too. I don’t know if he’ll stick around, it’s all in the hands of the TV Gods.”
Francis told the newspaper: “Avid Merrion is wandering around somewhere. He’s a bit different though, he’s grown up. The Bear was in the pilot too. I don’t know if he’ll stick around, it’s all in the hands of the TV gods.”
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The original series came under scrutiny in 2020 because of Francis’ portrayal of Black celebrities to which the Yorkshire celeb issued an apology and Channel 4 removed the episodes from its catch-up service.
Star of Celebrity Juice, took to Instagram to issue an apology for a past TV show, where he portrayed a number of black celebrities.
Francis said at the time: “Back in 2002 I did a show called Bo’ Selecta, I portrayed many Black people. Back then I didn’t think anything about it, people didn’t say anything – I’m not going to blame other people.
“Been talking to some people – I didn’t realise how offensive it was back then. I just want to apologise, I just want to say sorry for any upset I caused whether I was Michael Jackson, Craig David, Trisha Goddard, all people I’m a big fan of. I guess we’re all on a learning journey.”
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Feature Image Credit: Channel 4
