EXCLUSIVE: 'She sees the real me': Keith Lemon star Leigh Francis gushes over 'amazing' wife Jill Carter and insists he's 'punching' as he gives rare insight into their 29-year romance

They'd been dating since they were teens before eventually tying the knot in 2002 at Allerton Castle, North Yorkshire.

And Keith Lemon star Leigh Francis has given a rare insight into his 29-year romance with wife Jill Carter, with the star admitting he's 'punching above his weight' with the beauty therapist.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline at his close pal Matt Goss' intimate Gig at The Bloomsbury Club in London, Leigh, 48, told how Jill sees the 'real him' and is the one who 'holds it together' for their family.

The couple first met when she was 16 and he was 19, with the comedian admitting that people thought their relationship was 'cringey'.

Looking back on the start of their romance, Leigh reflected that there was 'nothing wrong with them dating' as Jill was 'old enough', with the couple defying naysayers with their love and are 'still together today'.

They've since gone on to welcome daughters Matilda and Dolly, whom the couple keep out of the public eye.   

Gushing over his stunning wife, Leigh said: 'When everyone meets her, they say "he is punching", with the star confessing that it is true as he added: 'Why would I want to date anyone who looks like me?

'Everyone should punch above their weight when they are dating!'

Professing his adulation for his spouse of 19 years, the Celebrity Juice star called Jill his 'rock' who he 'loves more everyday'.

And while Leigh continually entertains legions of fans onscreen with his flamboyant alter-ego Keith, the star revealed that at home, Jill knows and loves him for his true self. 

He explained: 'Everyone thinks that we wake up and the comedy starts but it's not like that. She sees the real me, the grumpy me.' 

He went on: 'She holds it together for in the family, Jill is an amazing woman.' 

Going on to further heap praise on his partner, the former Bo' Selecta! star enthused: 'Jill does everything, she is the best. I love everything about her.

'She is so special and is a brilliant mum to our kids.'

Meanwhile during the concert, Leigh admitted he came close to 'welling up' when Bros hunk Matt, 53, paid tribute to him on stage. 

The 80s icon, famed for hit song When Will I Be Famous, gushed that Leigh was 'a great man and a great friend' and that Leigh surprised him as he 'didn't know he was going to be there'.

The duo became friends while filming the comedian's show Shopping With Keith Lemon in 2019. 

In the past he has presented Through the Keyhole and The Keith Lemon Sketch Show. Last year at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests Leigh apologised for one of his most famous characters, Bo'selecta. 

In an Instagram post he wrote: 'Following recent events, I've done a lot of talking and learning and I would like to put this out there.

'I want to apologise to anyone that was offended by Bo'selecta. I'm on a constant journey of knowledge and just wanted to say I'm deeply sorry. #blacklivesmatter.'

His character used masks to make exaggerated versions of Michael Jackson, Craig David, Trisha Goddard and Mel B.

Leigh added to MailOnline: 'I apologised to both Trisha Goddard and her daughter, those sketches never came from a bad place'.