TV star Keith Lemon was due to return to Bolton today to start work on a new project.

But the Yorkshire-born star, real name is Leigh Francis, who was due to be at a mystery location for filming, has had to cancel the visit due to “extenuating circumstances”.

Lemon plans to come to the town at a later date to film for the project.

Those behind the show are keeping tight-lipped about what the finished product will be, but it is believed to be a comedy entertainment show that could appear on ITV1 if it gets the thumbs up from station bosses. The Celebrity Juice host, who has also featured in a big-screen film alongside Kelly Brook, was set to appear in a party scene at a Bolton house with 40 young extras dressed as ravers.

Producers of the show had said they were planning to shoot a party scene similar to that seen on Channel 4 teen drama Skins.

They had asked the extras to wear festival or party clothing and bring fancy headdresses and glow sticks.

A spokesman for Freemantle Media, which had been organising the filming, said: “We cannot say too much about it at the moment because it is only a pilot project.

“It is not certain that it will ever make it to air, but we are hoping to say more about it in future.”