Leigh Francis almost quit 'Celebrity Juice' after Fearne Cotton decided to leave.

Leigh Francis as Keith Lemon

Leigh Francis as Keith Lemon

The 45-year-old comic - who presents the quiz as his alter ego Keith Lemon - revealed he and team captains Fearne and Holly Willoughby had a pact for them all to walk away from the show together but he realised he still loves working on the programme too much to step down.

He said: "Initially I said, 'That's it, I'm leaving too.' It's been 10 years and Holly, Fearne and I don't see each other all the time, but we're a close group of mates.

"Ages ago we said to each other if one goes, we all go. After I found out Fearne was leaving, I went to bed and slept on it and woke up the next day thinking that I can't leave the show because I still enjoy it so much."

And Leigh was delighted when 'This Morning' host Holly admitted she wasn't planning to leave either.

He added: "I thought, 'If Holly leaves because Fearne is then that really is the end, I'm not doing it without them both.'

"But then I spoke to Holly and the first thing she said was, 'Who are we going to get then?' I said: 'So you're still up for it then?' and she said, 'Of course!' She did say she thought she would be the first to leave though. I thought so, too."

Paddy McGuinness, a frequent guest on the programme, is stepping in to replace Fearne and the presenter advised him to get drunk before they start filming.

He is quoted as saying: "He needs to drink like I do and as Holly does! You know what, we just never know what's going to happen because it changes at the last minute.

"It's really naughty, but on the night it's quite booze-fuelled naughtiness. Everyone has their inhibitions pushed to the curb. Everyone knows what they are getting into after 10 years so people don't get too offended.

"Holly, she's a robot! She's Holly Willough-boozy. She'll always win a drinking competition. I don't know how she does it. Like at the National TV Awards, she gets boozed up and then goes to work the next day."

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