Carol Vorderman ‘confirms’ Joe Lycett has become a father after fans shared ‘prank’ theories – as celebs inundate star with congratulatory messages

Joe Lycett has been inundated with congratulations from his famous friends, including Carol Vorderman and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, after announcing he had welcomed his first child.

The comedian, 36, surprised fans this week when he announced he had welcomed a son with a mystery girlfriend.

Sharing a photo of the newborn baby cradling, Joe’s friends and fans have now taken to the comments to share some sweet messages.

Sophie Ellis-Bexter wrote: ‘congratulations!! XXX’; Daisy May Cooper wrote: ‘Oh my god this is absolutely fucking joyful’

Carol Vorderman added: ‘Hooorayyyyyy there he is both of you….all of you…..sending huge love’; Traitors star Paul Gorton added: “Congratulations dad!”

Other fans wrote, “This has helped me thrive as a new mom. Congratulations. Happy boy. Lucky you. Enjoy. Xx; omg congratulationshope you’re all doing well xxx’.

However, several fans claim that the comedian is fooling them with the baby news.

They wrote, “I’m just afraid this will come out when he’s hugging a bunch of rhubarb in a hat; Congratulations!! (unless this is an elaborate joke, in which case: congratulations!)

“I want to congratulate you, I really do, but I’m a little worried you packed a jacket; I never know what’s real and what’s not when Lycett is involved.’

In April, Joe revealed he was dating, after previously admitting that “people assume I’m gay because of my whole personality.”

However, he has used the term bisexual in the past to describe his sexuality because he “had difficulty explaining his feelings” and that “was easier.”

Joe has remained very private about his love life, very rarely giving insights and also using a fake name for his partner in an attempt to keep her identity a secret.

The TV personality revealed he was in a new relationship and opened up about his sexuality during Channel 4’s new series of Late Night Lycett.

During the show in April he revealed to viewers he had a mystery girlfriend – after previously saying he struggles to explain his sexuality.

Joe explained: “A lot has changed since the last series, I have some news, which is that I have a girlfriend.

‘I’ve been talking about being bisexual for years, but people assume I’m gay based on my whole personality. Yes, I have a girlfriend and people have been very nice about it.’

Add to the Bimini Bon-Boulash’s podcast The PiecesJoe gave a rare insight into his love life when he spoke about using a fake name for his partner in an attempt to keep her identity a secret.

He said: ‘So I have Winston the cat, and my partner Denise. And, um, her name isn’t Denise, but I don’t talk about her because she has a job that can’t be in the public eye.

“I call her Denise because she hates the name Denise, so um, I live with Denise.”

Joe, who has spoken openly about his sexuality in the past, then spoke to the former Ru Paul’s Drag Race star about being pansexual.

He shared: “Well, it’s interesting to be in a long-term relationship with a woman now because a lot of people are like, sorry what?

Joe continued, “There was a brief period when I was in school where I thought I was gay because I was attracted to men, and then I was like, whoa, whoa, wait a minute.”

“Then I use the term bisexual when someone asks and I just want to give a quick answer because people understand that.

“But I think the most accurate way to describe myself is pansexual, in the sense that I’m not attracted to people just because of their gender.”

Joe went on to say that he sometimes has trouble explaining his sexuality, adding, “I don’t really know how it works either because, I don’t know, how does it work? As in, I don’t know how it works when it comes to explaining it to idiots.

“Because it’s hard to deal with, well, no, I’m attracted to men sometimes, but not to all men. And it doesn’t often have to do with the fact that they are men.

“A lot of times it’s like a good torso is enough, you know? The small abdominal muscles. Yes, that’s it. The lines. The hull is dangerous. A sweet little arm.

“Yeah, it doesn’t matter what the gender is or anything. And I don’t know why that is, but that’s how it is. It’s strange because to me it suggests that sexuality isn’t just male and female.

“So the intellectual side of me says it’s pansexual, which means everything. So that’s how I think about myself.’

On Friday, Joe revealed that he had become a father for the first time when he shared a sweet photo of himself cradling his newborn son on Instagram.

Alongside the image, Joe wrote on Instagram: ‘An appreciation post from me to the extraordinary @bham_womens hospital.

“My first encounter with them was years ago when they cared for a friend of mine during surgery, and most recently when they masterfully welcomed a little boy into the world, who happens to be my son.

“The care and compassion he and his mother received was exceptional; from the antenatal classes, wonderful midwives, consultants, doctors, nurses and the ongoing care in the community. We also loved their baked potatoes. Birmingham is so lucky to have them and I will be forever grateful for everything they have done.

‘I love being a dad but unfortunately I think this now means I can’t avoid going to Rob and Josh’s f**king podcast. We are not fielding press requests about this as we have already sold the rights to the first family photo to Autotrader.”

In the adorable image, Joe can be seen wrapping his black coat around the toddler, who is dressed in a blue knit hat, as they took a walk outside.

Fans were quick to send their congratulations to the comic, although many suspected this could all be an elaborate prank – which is what the star is known for.

Comments included: “I can’t say if this is satire, but I’m for it either way.”

“I want to congratulate you, but I also think it’s you and it could easily be a puppy/kitten/gearbox in that hat.”

‘Congratulations!! (unless this is an elaborate joke, in which case: congratulations!)

“I never know what’s real and what’s not when Lycett is involved.”

However, Birmingham Women’s Hospital added a heartfelt note saying: ‘Many congratulations again everyone. We are so proud to have supported you through this incredible life-changing milestone. We wish you all the best and lots of nice hugs for the future.’