Comedian Joe Lycett is a much-loved television personality that fans would have loved to have seen replace Matt Lucas on the Great British Bake Off.
Ever since Lucas broke the news that he would not be returning to host the baking competition, there have been reports that Lycett could be the one to replace him.
However, the 34-year-old set the record straight on KISS FM on December 14 by simply saying: “I don’t want to do it’’.
He joked: “I like a quiet life. I work for 20 minutes max, and then I have to be suspended in a salt bath for a week. I can’t be bothered.”
It’s a shame the comedian doesn’t feel like he’s the right fit for the show, and his fans are sure to be disappointed.
But for those unfamiliar with his work who is Joe Lycett and what is he best known for?
Who is Joe Lycett?
Joe Lycett is a comedian and television presenter, best known for his appearances on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Live at the Apollo, Taskmaster, and QI.
He honed his craft as a student at Manchester University, where he studied English and Drama. He eventually made his debut as a stand-up comedian in 2012 with Some Lycett Hot, which was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards.
In his early years as a comedian, Lycett toured with Jim Davidson. The two became friends despite Davidson’s offensive jokes. Around this same time, Lycett began making more appearances on television shows, such as Celebrity Juice, Dirty Digest, Sunday Brunch, Live at the Apollo, and radio shows such as The Comedian’s Comedian with Stuart Goldsmith, and My Dad Wrote a Porno.
More recently, he has hosted his own comedy programmes: Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back, Joe Lycett vs the Oil Giant, Joe Lycett’s Big Pride Party, and Joe Lycett: Summer Exhibitionist.
Controversial stunts
The comedian’s career has involved quite a few controversial stunts.
Last month, Lycett shredded £10,000 in protest against David Beckham being an ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality remains illegal and is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
In a video, the Birmingham-born comedian told the footballer: “If you end your relationship with Qatar, I will donate ten grand of my own money (that’s a grand for every million you’re reportedly getting) to charities that support queer people in football.
“However, if you do not I will throw the money into a shredder at midday next Sunday... not just the money, but also your status as gay icon will be shredded.”
Then, in a follow up video, Lycett was seen placing huge piles of cash into a shredder while dressed in a rainbow-layered tulle outfit. He later revealed that he didn’t actually shred £10,000, but instead donated it to LGBTQ+ charities.
In August, while hosting the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham, the comedian took the opportunity to throw a dig at the UK Government’s immigration policy.
“I’m going to do something now that the British Government doesn’t always do, and welcome some foreigners – this time from the region of Asia.”
The Birmingham-born comic later retweeted a clip of the moment and captioned it “soz @pritipatel just a bit of banter tehehe.”
The comedian was briefly known as Hugo Boss when he changed his name by deed poll to protest against the fashion brand. He revealed on Twitter it was done “to raise awareness about the fact that fashion behemoth Hugo Boss have issued cease and desist letters to small businesses that have the word ‘Boss’ in their name, including independent Swansea brewery Boss Brewing.’”
