Joe Lycett surprised fans on Friday when he revealed the sweet news that he had become a father for the first time.
The comedian, 36, took to Instagram to share that he had welcomed a son with his mystery girlfriend ‘Denise’, sharing an adorable photo with a newborn baby wearing a tiny woolly hat.
Joe is notoriously private about his love life, calling his long-term partner “Denise,” a fake name because her job prevents her from being in the public eye.
He has spoken over the years about identifying as pansexual – being attracted to people of all genders or regardless of gender – but previously admitted that he tends not to put enough effort into his love life due to his busy work schedule.
But in April, during an episode of his award-winning Channel 4 show Late Night Lycett, Joe announced he had a girlfriend.
Joe Lycett surprised fans on Friday when he revealed the sweet news that he had become a father for the first time
In April, Joe announced he had a girlfriend during an episode of his award-winning Channel 4 show Late Night Lycett
He told viewers: “A lot has changed since the last series, I have 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.’
Joe also joked that he had received a letter from the Pope about his new relationship, saying “one down.”
Speaking about the Bimini Bon-Boulash’s podcast The Pieces On Tuesday, Joe 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 previously opened up about his ideal relationship, telling Attitude magazine that his perfect partner would be “someone who lays there eating chocolate.” That’s the dream.’
He has spoken about being bisexual over the years, but also revealed on Bimini’s podcast that pansexual is the term he thinks fits best.
Speaking on Bimini Bon-Boulash’s The Pieces podcast on Tuesday, Joe 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.
Joe previously opened up about his ideal relationship, telling Attitude magazine that his perfect partner would be “someone who lays there eating chocolate.” That’s the dream
The comedian surprised fans on Friday when he shared a sweet photo of himself cradling his newborn son on Instagram alongside the announcement
Joe 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? 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 thought, 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
The TV funnyman shared that he had become a father when he posted a sweet photo of himself cradling his newborn son on Instagram on Friday.
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.”
Alongside the image, Joe wrote on Instagram: ‘An appreciation post from me to the extraordinary @bham_womens hospital’
Fans were quick to send their congratulations to the comic, although many suspected this could all be an elaborate prank – which the star is known for
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.”
While several other celebrities including Judi Love, Clara Amfo and John Whaite offered congratulations
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.
The star is seen looking tenderly at his young as he carefully holds him to his chest.
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.’
While several other celebrities including Judi Love, Clara Amfo and John Whaite offered congratulations.
The news comes after Joe recently opened up about his sexuality and spoke about his secret girlfriend ‘Denise’
‘So I have Winston the cat, and my partner Denise. And, uh, her name’s not Denise, but I don’t talk about her because she has a job that can’t be made public.”
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
Joe said on the Bimini podcast this week that he sometimes struggles to explain his sexuality: “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.’
Joe is often known for his high-profile stunts, including when he changed his name to Hugo Boss in 2020.
He also lost £10,000 in a high-profile row with David Beckham, who he criticized for being Qatar’s ambassador during the 2022 World Cup.