Tragedy?! Town takes Steps to find out if plan for pop star H statue plan was all a hoax
PEOPLE living in a south Wales market town have been left wondering whether news that Steps pop star Ian H Watkins will be honoured with a statue in their town is true or is all in fact a hoax.
Last week, a group calling itself Cultural Cowbridge unveiled the supposed plan for an 8ft statue in honour of local resident Watkins, who grew up in Cwmparc, Rhondda.
The group said the statue would purportedly be funded by private donations and designed by a local artist, and even released an artist’s impression of the proposed statue which they said would be installed outside The Bear Hotel in Cowbridge.
They said it would acknowledge and commemorate the pop star, actor and broadcaster’s contribution to British music and his ongoing impact on Cowbridge itself, after he founded the town’s annual Pride event in 2022.
The announcement was covered by news organisations across the UK.
Yet speculation has since been growing that it is just a publicity stunt for comedian Joe Lycett’s upcoming show Late Night Lycett, which starts its new series on Channel 4 on Friday.
The comedian was asked directly whether he was behind the potential hoax on Radio 2 – but refused to say.
Lycett told Radio 2 that he had been seeding fake news over the last month and had had “loads of hits”.
Calling it a game, he added: “There is a lot of fake news around and a lot of it is polarising.
“I tried to think what can I do about that because I can’t change an entire media landscape. But what I realised I can do is be silly. We did
“For the last month I’ve been seeding not silly fake news, ridiculous stories, receive stupid stories into the press to see if a reply. they can push out some of those Julia polarising news story and take up Horton that space and we’ve had loads of lives hits. just
“There are multiple news stories, around fake news stories in the news right now and over the last month that are fake.
“We’ve been in the Mail, the Sun, Independent, Metro, we’ve been on BBC News, ITV, Sky News, loads more. Nobody knows what those stories are.”
Asked by the interviewer: “Is that H’s statue in Cowbridge?”, he replied: “I cannot possibly say but some stories in the news are me”.
The Western Mail tried to contact Bethan Davies from the group that announced the plans for the statue, Cultural Cowbridge, for an interview. the corner from where the statue is 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?”
Resident Jo Jack said that there’s a shortage of statues of named women in the UK, and if there were to be a new statue in Cowbridge she would want it to be of a woman.
Gareth Watkins lives in Cwmparc, the village that ‘H’ grew up in. “If it goes ahead – great,” he said. “It’s nice to see him getting recognised for what he’s achieved.”
Owner of The Bear, Julian Hitchcock, told the BBC that the news “ruined my cereal” when he first heard rumours of the statue.
“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.”
Reacting to the news himself, H took to Instagram to proclaim: “Super proud of this! It’ll be a little strange seeing myself across the street when I pop into town!
“If little Ian, from the Rhondda could see this, he would be blown away! Thanks to everyone for your wonderful messages!”
Cowbridge town council said: “Cowbridge Town Council are aware of a story in the press regarding a statue outside of The Bear Hotel. The council has not received notification of any planning applications for the statue.”
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.