Celebrity Juice 2020: when the new series of Keith Lemon’s show starts, new captains revealed - and why Holly Willoughby left

The madcap show is back with new team captains and all the hilarity you’ve come to love – here’s when it’s on
(Image: ITV)(Image: ITV)
(Image: ITV)

The new series of Keith Lemon’s Celebrity Juice is nearly upon us.

The anarchic show – which sees celebrities engaging in some of television’s silliest (and often most humiliating) games – returns for its 24th series in October, with all the madcap hilarity fans have come to expect.

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New team captains are on hand, but the chaos will be overseen as always by Keith Lemon, the alter ego of Bo' Selecta! comedian, Leigh Francis.

Here is everything you need to know.

Who are the new team captains?

Following Holly Willougby’s departure, and that of Leeds-born Mel B just a month or so later, the show has been in need of two new team captains.

Those roles have now been filled, and ITV has revealed that Laura Whitmore and Emily Atack will be taking over.

The presenters have both appeared on Celebrity Juice in the past in a guest capacity, and Atack joked that she is “dreading” what she could be faced with on the show.

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"Whitmore should know that I won’t be backing down and she is going to have some tough competition,” she added competitively. “But more importantly a wonderfully hilarious time. Bring it on!”

Whitmore responded by saying she was “thrilled” to be part of the Celebrity Juice family, and “can’t wait to see what Keith has got lined up”.

"From past experiences, nothing would surprise me,” she added.

When can I watch the new series?

The new series of Celebrity Juice begins on Thursday 22 October.

It will be broadcast on its usual channel of ITV2 at 10pm.

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The first episode of the new series sees actor and Celebrity Juice legend Will Mellor, Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo, musician Tom Grennan, and the hilarious Jimmy Carr all join in the hilarity as guests.

Why did Holly Willoughby leave the show?

In May 2020, Holly Willoughby confirmed that she had quit Celebrity Juice, saying "all good things must come to an end".

The TV presenter left her team captain role after "12 years of fantastic chaos" on the show, adding that she couldn’t believe how quick that time has gone."

Willoughby left on good terms, and said filming episodes of Celebrity Juice “never felt like work”, and was more like “a night out.”

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"All good things must come to an end and nothing lasts forever,” she said on Instagram. "It's time for me to hand over my team captain seat to some lucky, lucky person."

She said of Lemon: "I remember starting this journey with you and saying 'I think this might work'. My goodness me it did. I love the bones of you Lemon! I'll be back as a guest and just to make sure someone is keeping you in check."

At the time, Lemon wrote on Twitter: "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."

In a recent interview with Christine Lampard – who is currently hosting Lorraine – Francis quipped that Willoughby “shouldn’t have left.”

Lampard pointed out that “Holly did say when she left that it’s the best job on telly.”

Lemon responded: “Well, she shouldn’t have left then!"