Leeds-born Keith Lemon tries his humour out on the yanks... with hilarious results

Leeds-born Keith Lemon is knows his humour isn't for everyone but that's not stopped him trying to '˜break America', writes Georgia Humphreys

Keith Lemon, AKA Beeston-born Keith Lemon, is busy tweeting Taylor Swift when I first walk into London’s Planet Hollywood restaurant for our chat.

Nope, the Leeds-born comic and US superstar haven’t become unlikely best mates - there’s just a sketch in his new show that he’s sending her a snapshot of (in it, he’s dressed up as the Shake It Off singer, wearing a blonde wig, and bright red hotpants).

There’s plenty more where that came from in Keith Lemon: Coming In America, as he attempts to realise his dream of hosting his own US chat show, while taking some of his favourite sketch alter egos along for the ride.

Keith (he tends to adopt one of his alter-egos during interviews), worked as a graphic artist at the YEP before entering the world of comedy. He went to Farnley Park High School (now The Farnley Academy) and later studied at the Leeds College of Art and received a qualification in graphic design.

Having made a name for himself in the UK, he’s now trying to do the same in the US. The big question is, what with so many hit UK TV shows (Through The Keyhole, Celebrity Juice, The Paddy & Keith Picture Show) why did Keith, 45, feel the need to follow in James Corden’s footsteps, and head across the pond?

“I said, ‘I’d like to take the characters that I like doing from the sketch show and do more of them, but I don’t have time to do a full sketch show. But wouldn’t it be funny if you filmed me trying to make it in America?” he explains in his thick Yorkshire accent.

“So, I went to America, to go and smash it, but purposely went to not smash it, hence I am here.”

The comedian, who is wearing a black and white check suit when we meet, his ginger hair scraped back in a ponytail, is perhaps too honest for his own good sometimes.

And he was more than happy to have a documentary crew film his every move as he jetted off to La La Land.

“You do forget that the cameras are there - I always think that’s balls when you hear them say that on Big Brother, ‘cause you must hear it or whatever - but you do forget,” he says.