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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kyle O'Sullivan

Why Celebrity Juice stars Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton quit - and started demise

Celebrity Juice has been scrapped after 14 years - but the writing has seeminly been on the wall for a long time.

After 26 series and nearly 300 episodes, the outrageous ITV2 panel show is coming to an end with two farewell specials celebrating all of Juice's maddest moments.

Keith Lemon, who has hosted the series since the very first episode in 2008, said: "I remember doing the first episode thinking wow that was fun! In the V/O in opening titles I said it was the best telly show on telly.

"Whatever you thought of it, it was definitely the best fun making it. An amazing team, and amazing guests, but all good things must come to an end.

"I'll miss it, and everyone so much, but on to the next chapter and I look forward to going out in style on the specials! All t' best and good luck with ya business!"

The original Celeb Juice team captains were close pals Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton - but they both ended up walking away from the show for different reasons.

Fearne Cotton, Keith Lemon and Holly Willoughby were the original stars of Celebrity Juice (ITV)
They became good friends on and off-screen (PA)

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Never afraid to take on a challenge, however gruesome, the pair often showed a side that This Morning viewers or BBC Radio 1 listeners did not witness.

In one of their most hilarious moments, the pair were challenged with picking an olive up from floor using only their tongues.

Holly made the awkward confession that she had stuck her tongue down Fearne's nostril and Keith described as "the sexiest thing" he had seen on 10 years of Celebrity Juice.

They also took their friendship to new levels by shoving the same banana in both their mouths and navigating an assault course.

Making it quite clear that the whole challenge is driven by nothing but innuendo, Keith turned to the camera and said: "If there are any sixteen-year-old boys at home, watching this alone... grab a box of tissues."

But all good things must come to an end and in December 2018 it was announced that Fearne had quit her role as team captain after more than a decade.

Fearne revealed: "After ten tears of complete fun I have decided to leave Celebrity Juice. It has been a joy to be part of this magnificent show and I wish the team the very best in future series."

Speaking the month before, Fearne had admitted she was so busy being a working mum she barely had any time to see her friends.

During an appearance on ITV's Lorraine at the start of 2019, the presenter admitted she was going to miss the Celebrity Juice gang "massively".

She continued: "I think you need to have change and have a shake-up in life every now and again and take risks and feel a bit scared again.

"It was the same when I left Radio 1 – I left on a bit of a high and wanted to try something new and have a new adventure. It's very much with that sort of feeling attached to it."

Holly continued to remain on the show with a number of special guest team captains, but deciced she wanted to walk away in May 2020.

Posting a touching goodbye message, Holly said she wanted to spend more time with her family but vowed Juice fans had not seen the last of her.

Holly wrote: "Thank you @celebjuiceofficial for 12 years of fantastic chaos... I can’t quite believe what we’ve done and how quick that time has gone. Thank you to you all for watching, we’ve always had the loudest and best audiences.

Holly and Fearne were the first team captains (ITV)

"Also a huge thank you to @itv2 for believing in the show in the first place and for all of your support...Over the years the production team has changed, however to anyone lucky enough to have worked on the show they will know that we really do have the best time, it’s never felt like work and always been to me like a night out.

"Thank you for all your ingenious ideas and hard work... all good things must come to an end and nothing lasts forever.

"It’s time for me to hand over my team captain seat to some lucky lucky person... whoever that is, know you are about to get one of the best jobs in telly working with one of comedies finest... @keithlemon."

She went on: "Where to begin... I remember starting this journey with you and saying ‘I think this might work’... my goodness me it did... three friends, you me and @fearnecotton.

"That is what is at the heart of it.. friendship... I love the bones of you Lemon! Thank you for making me laugh for twelve years.

"I’ll be back as a guest and just to make sure someone is keeping you in check... if I don’t see you through a week or next week or the week after... know you are always in my heart."

Keith was devastated by the news and replied: "I've had a lovely time working with you. You are the best! I hope I'm lucky enough to work with you again one day. Goodbye @hollywills x."

Holly and Fearne ended up being replaced by Love Island host Laura Whitmore and Inbetweeners star Emily Atack - but they have not lasted very long.

Holly and Fearne took part in some hilarious challenges together (ITV)

Over the years, a number of incredibly famous faces sat on the Celebrity Juice panel, including singer Ed Sheeran and Baywatch star Pamela Anderson.

The regular captains were often joined by the likes of TV chef Gino D'Acampo, Spice Girl Mel B, Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness, model and presenter Kelly Brook and Two Pints of Lager actor Will Mellor.

Paul Mortimer Director of Reality, Acquisitions and Controller, ITV2, ITVBe and CITV said: "Celebrity Juice and Keith have become firm favourites in the ITV2 schedule over the years, with Keith’s no holds barred humour and outrageous antics redefining the comedy panel show experience.

"It's safe to say Celebrity Juice certainly won’t be forgotten in a hurry, and we'd like to thank all of the team at Talkback, and of course Keith and all of our team captains over the years for making Juice the infectious TV hit it's become."

However, it's not the end for Keith on ITV as he will be back for a new series of Shopping with Keith Lemon, where famous faces spend some quality time with him and reveal secrets about their private lives.

Jonno Richards, Managing Director of Talkback, added: "Celebrity Juice has been the best show on 'telly! We cannot be prouder to have made Juice with Keith for the past 14 years.

"We'll forever miss the madness and mayhem but look forward to giving Juice the send-off it deserves, as well as seeing Shopping back on ITV2 later this year."

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