A baffling new update occurred after Joe Lycett revealed he had become a father at the weekend. The comedian, 36, left fans stunned on Saturday as he announced he’d welcomed his first child with his mystery girlfriend. Many quickly suggested it could be a prank.
As part of his post, the star—who is a notorious trickster—bizarrely mentioned Autotrader in the caption, saying: “We will not be taking any press requests about this as we have already sold the rights to the first family picture to Autotrader.”
He did not clarify his mention of the brand any further, and it is unknown if he has made a deal with the car company.
In response to his announcement, Autotrader wrote, “Congratulations again Joe! We can’t wait to publish the photos of Mini Cooper Lycett.”
Autotrader has revealed a new digital family photo-uploading project launching on its website this week, inspired by Joe’s post. This project will allow parents to share images of their family life, suggesting that Joe might be involved in the “campaign.”
Autotrader shared the news on social media, posting, “@joelycett has announced we’re now in the family photo business! While we usually trade in cars, we couldn’t resist a little side hustle. Coming soon: the most exclusive family photo album around…#TinyTrader.”
A spokesperson from Auto Trader said, “After our news became public knowledge, we’ve had to move quickly to keep up with the demand and are pleased to announce the launch of our Family Photo Gallery. What better way to show off your new pride and joy than on a platform that has over 80 million visitors each month. We hope everyone enjoys the photos and are inspired to browse for a new car while they’re with us.”
This surprising announcement comes after Joe made light of the “misinformation” surrounding his sexuality with a sarcastic post about pansexuality. His baby news also sparked speculation that it might be an elaborate stunt by the serial prankster.
In an unearthed interview following the announcement, Joe shared his thoughts on relationships and attraction, admitting that gender doesn’t play a role in finding his ideal partner—he’s just looking for someone to relax with.
Speaking to Attitude in 2015, he said, “I’ve tried Tinder. I’m not a very sexual kind of person. I’m emotional.” When asked about his ideal partner, he added, “Someone to lie there with eating chocolate. That’s the dream.”
He also revealed that “pansexual seems to be the closest thing” to his orientation.
“Sometimes you just look at someone’s thighs and think, ‘Oof, God, yeah,’ but the other parts don’t appeal to you. It’s not entirely to do with gender—it’s to do with where you’re at, your upbringing and the kind of person you are. It’s really complicated, like life is.”
