I’m nosy, I like looking into people’s houses. It’s a lovely job
Keith Lemon, 45, is set to snoop around more top celebrities’ homes as Through The Keyhole returns to ITV with a sixth series. And with a format change and a trip to America in store, it promises to be one of the best seasons yet, he tells GEMMA DUNN
It’s been a busy year for you – and now you’re back with a brand new series of Through The Keyhole?
YES, I’m as busy as ever, going round people’s houses and Celebrity Juicing. But this series of (Keyhole) might be one of the best ones yet – we got great houses and they sent me to America where we did one of my idols from the Eighties.
I can’t tell you who it is, but what a lovely person!
We exchanged phone numbers and we still text now, but it’s funny sometimes, because you become friends with people until they text back and go, ‘You didn’t say you broke that!’
But generally, I think I’ve grown up. I’ve matured.
Can you tell us a bit more about this season’s panellists?
ONE I particularly enjoyed was Caitlyn Jenner. Seeing Caitlyn Jenner conversing with Johnny Vegas, now that’s a couple I never thought I’d see getting on well. It was lovely watching them.
But again, because she’s American, I thought, ‘She’s not going to know any of these houses, is she?’
But she took it upon herself to find out. She went all Miss Marple, picking up on the clues.
Have there been any changes to the show’s format?
I’LL TELL you what’s exciting about this new series – in the past we’ve always shown (the audience) whose house it is, but we did get a lot of people on Twitter and other social networks saying, “I wish you wouldn’t show the house because I like playing along”.
Well, now we don’t show the house so you can play along at home with the panellists!
You too are a member of the panel. Isn’t that incredible?
It seems you’ve no shortage of homes to snoop on, either.
WE ALWAYS panic. Every series we go, ‘Well, it’s probably the last time we’re going to do this. Are there any more houses to do?’
But as I always say, there are always new celebrities coming up, and new celebrities going down, or someone who is selling their home.
Either way we’re still very interested in where they live. I’m nosy, I like looking into people’s houses. It’s a lovely job.
It’s one of many TV jobs for you. Is it fair to say you’re in demand?
I DON’T know if I’m in demand. Normally I’m just knocking on doors going, ‘Let me have a go, please’.
But yes, I’m really chuffed. I mean the next series of Celebrity Juice is its 21st series, and last year marked 10 years. Just the fact that Juice got to 10 years was an incredible dream. The next series of Through The Keyhole is series six, so fingers crossed we’ll keep going.
But I always have a lot of other ideas in the back pocket just in case. You can’t get complacent, you’ve got to keep going.
You were very supportive of your pal Holly Willoughby’s recent stint hosting I’m A Celebrity... can you ever see yourself competing in the jungle?
NO WAY ever will I go in the jungle – even when I hit rock bottom and I’ve got no work at all. I’ll go work in Hamleys.
What about the rest of the reality shows on offer?
I’D NEVER do Strictly. Ashley Roberts told me how hard it is and I’m good friends with Emma Bunton, who did it years ago, and she was tired.
It’s really hard work, so I wouldn’t do that one. And Big Brother has ended and I never would have done that. I got offered to host Big Brother after Davina McCall and I said, ‘No, but you should get Emma Willis’.
Then they got Brian Dowling. And then obviously Emma took over. Then they said, ‘Will you go in it?’ I said, ‘I’m not going to go in it’. And then they offered me chunks, and I said ‘Triple it and I’ll still never go in’.
I like watching it all though.
So what’s left to tick off career-wise? Is there still a dream job?
I CAN’T tell you because some dream jobs are happening. I’ve done a cameo in a film which I won’t tell you about, but that was really exciting.
I really enjoyed it, so more bits like that. I’d like to do a Christmas album with Paddy McGuinness. We talked about it this Christmas but we didn’t fit it in, and now he’s doing Top Gear so we probably won’t fit it in next year.
So I’m going to just keep going, really.
■ Through The Keyhole returns to ITV tonight at 9.30pm