Leigh Francis has filmed a pilot for a Bo Selecta reboot

Leigh Francis has revealed that he has filmed a pilot for a reboot of his controversial sketch show Bo Selecta.

The series, which originally aired on Channel 4 between 2002 and 2009, saw Francis play Avid Merrion, a stalker of various prominent celebrities.

Read more: Craig David criticises Leigh Francis as 'insincere' over blackface apology

Now, talking to The Sun, Francis revealed he had shot a pilot for a reboot of the cult show: “Avid Merrion is wandering around somewhere. He’s a bit different though, he’s grown up. The Bear was in the pilot too. I don’t know if he’ll stick around, it’s all in the hands of the TV Gods.”

Bo Selecta has proved controversial for its depiction of black celebrities including Craig David and Trisha Goddard who Francis would play while wearing latex masks.

In 2020, Francis apologised for the way he portrayed various people and Channel 4 removed the show from its streaming service.

At the time, Francis said: “Back in 2002 I did a show called Bo’ Selecta, I portrayed many black people. Back then I didn’t think anything about it, people didn’t say anything - I’m not going to blame other people. Been talking to some people - I didn’t realise how offensive it was back then."

He added: “I just want to apologise, I just want to say sorry for any upset I caused whether I was Michael Jackson, Craig David, Trisha Goddard, all people I’m a big fan of. I guess we’re all on a learning journey.”

David has since called the apology "insincere" as it was made during the wave of protests following the death of George Floyd in the US.

The singer said: "I don't know how sincere, it seems a bit of a coincidence, it comes at a time of George Floyd has been killed. To then have the Black Lives Matter movement, protests around the world and then it comes at a time as a reaction of 'I should say my piece' for something that should never have gone there."

Francis has since told David to "move on".

Watch below: John Barnes defends comedian Leigh Francis.