Comedian Joe Lycett, 38, has spoken about his sexuality and his career in the wake of becoming a father. Lycett and his girlfriend welcomed a son in 2024. The announcement initially led some fans to believe it was a prank, prompting Lycett to clarify it was genuine.
In an interview with Fearne Cotton on her Happy Place podcast, Lycett addressed the surprise some had regarding his relationship with a woman, given his public persona. "Lots of people were surprised when I had a child with a woman because they were like, ‘but you're the gay man’," he stated. He clarified that while he is camp and uses innuendo, he has never identified as gay, explaining that he has previously described himself as pansexual, meaning attraction is not limited by gender.
Lycett took a year off fatherhood after saving money from two months of work. However, about six months into this period, he experienced an identity crisis. "I just reflected on loads of things in my career and just was a bit embarrassed by it all and a bit like, you know, it's so naff to be a comedian," he said. He attributed this reflection to the unusual hours and profound experience of early parenthood.
Lycett also expressed doubt about whether he would have the courage to start a stand-up career today, given its inherent pressures and vulnerability, crediting his younger self's naivety for initiating his path in comedy. He has kept the identity of his child's mother private, citing that her job prevents her from being in the public eye. He previously joked on his Channel 4 chat show about having a girlfriend, referring to her as ‘Denise,’ which he stated is not her real name but an inside joke.
