Panicked Holly Willoughby fled Celebrity Juice filming after Keith Lemon was struck down with coronavirus symptoms
HOLLY Willoughby fled the Celebrity Juice studio after host Keith Lemon came down with coronavirus symptoms.
The channel’s golden girl was among stars in fancy dress to film an episode in front of an audience but it had to be cancelled.
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As the audience departed, a coughing Lemon apologised — saying he knew he was running a fever and high temperature of 38C but wanted to “soldier on”.
He had false teeth in as he was dressed as Bee Gees star Robin Gibb, while Holly, 39, was kitted out as Blondie singer Debbie Harry.
The comic, real name Leigh Francis, 46, had been checked over by a medic before it and was given the OK but bosses soon pulled the plug.
Talking before the cancellation, Keith told fans heading to the ITV2 show: “I probably won’t give you a high five in case I give you what I’ve got.
“I’m just a bit dizzy and, as I say, achey and got a little cough but not worth talking about. I’m just really tired. I keep getting hot and cold.”
One audience member told The Sun: “Keith casually announced he had a fever of 38 degrees but soldiered on.
“He had close contact with some members of the audience and very close contact with his colleagues.
“We were appalled he came in to film with a very large studio audience, some of whom have severe health problems such as myself, and some were elderly.”
The cancellation came after Boris Johnson's speech yesterday in which he shut down mass gatherings and urged everyone to stop non-essential travel and contact with others.
Before the show Lemon had written on Instagram: "I don’t have Coronavirus symptoms but I don’t feel 100% Must be something else going around. Hope I don’t start feeling compelled to buy all the supermarkets toilet paper stock!"
Panellist Paddy McGuinness was surprised by the quick escalation of events that led the show to be cancelled.
He said: "Well that escalated quickly. We were all set to record @celebjuiceofficial audience in and then we hear Boris Johnson’s speech and that was that! Audience out, show cancelled...for now!!!!
"Still I got to spend a bit of time with my boy @keithlemon. Stay safe, keep an eye out for the elderly and wash them hands!!!"
Guest Joel added: "What a weird evening - went to record @celebjuiceofficial - then the audience were told to go home after Boris’ speech.
"Having serious logistic based conversations while dressed as @billieeilish was one of the strangest things I’ve ever been involved in. Stay safe everyone - keep washing your bits."
Work has also had to stop on BBC dramas Line Of Duty and Peaky Blinders — and producers on The Graham Norton Show are struggling to find celebrities willing to appear.
Producers say they do not know how to fill the sofa for the BBC1 chat show, due to resume in April.
It was set to return with a James Bond special. But that plan was wrecked when the release of new 007 movie No Time To Die was postponed due to the coronavirus.
Meanwhile Loose Women aired without an audience for the first time ever yesterday amid the pandemic.
The panel, who were joined by Kerry Katona, presented instead to an empty room, with a lone floor manager left to cheer the stars in at the start of the show.
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Brits have been told to stay out of pubs, clubs, theatres and cinemas for weeks - and potentially months into the summer.
Boris insisted the over 70s, those who are pregnant, and anyone with underlying health conditions (around 20million Brits) should try not to leave their homes if they can, and avoid crowded spaces immediately.
It comes as 55 Brits have been killed by the illness, with more than 1,500 cases across the country.