H IS FOR HOAX
COMEDIAN Joe Lycett has confirmed a news story about plans for a statue of Welsh singer Ian “H” Watkins was fake. It was widely reported last week that the Steps star’s career would be commemorated with an eight-foot statue in his hometown of Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan.
The prank was revealed during the launch episode of Channel 4’s Late Night Lycett, which returned to screens on Friday.
Joe, 35, confessed he was behind a series of other fake news stories, including a man with a bruise shaped like Prince Harry and a story about an alleged Banksy painting.
Upon announcing he was behind the prank, which Watkins was involved in himself, Joe joked: “A statue of H from Steps is being built in his hometown of Cowbridge.
“I know what you’re thinking, that’ll only be torn down in a few years when people remember his historic links to the slave trade. It was covered everywhere.”
Joe then confirmed: “There’s no statue of H. We made that s**t up!”
In a bid to get people to play along with Lycett’s prank, Watkins, who grew up in Cwmparc, Rhondda, posted a picture of the “statue” to his social media platforms. He captioned the post: “Absolutely bowled over! Super proud of this! It’ll be a little strange seeing myself across the street when I pop into town!”
The singer received numerous congratulatory messages from the likes of Sophie Ellis Bexter and John Barrowman.
Appearing on Late Night Lycett, Watkins said: “Fake news!”
Earlier this week Joe claimed he had successfully planted fake news in The Daily Mail, The Sun newspaper, BBC news, Sky News, Metro, The Independent and LADBible.
There had been mixed feelings from locals in Cowbridge about the “plans”.
Julia Horton lives around the corner from where the statue was purportedly set to be placed.
She said: “Everyone’s talking about it, it’s a really odd choice.
“I’m not against H, because I’ve met H and he has done tremendous stuff.
“Pride week he’s here and he does do great stuff. But I just think it’s a bit odd, isn’t it, for Cowbridge?”
Owner of The Bear pub, Julian Hitchcock, told the BBC the news “ruined my cereal” when he first heard rumours of the statue outside his business.
“But the pavement outside the hotel is nothing to do with me,” he said.
“So, if the council see fit to deem H worthy of a statue then so be it. H has done lots of good things for Cowbridge. As have lots of other people.”
Lycett has been involved in a number of high-profile stunts over the years.
In 2020, after fashion brand Hugo Boss called on Swansea-based Boss Brewing to stop using the word “Boss” in its name, Lycett temporarily changed his name to “Hugo Boss” to draw attention to the company’s use of legal cease and desist letters.