Joe Lycett has revealed multiple "silly fake news stories" he's planted over the past month.
The comedian, 35, claimed earlier this week that he had been behind a number of fake news stories that have been reported across mainstream media over the past few weeks. In a video clip posted to social media, in front of an upside down globe, Joe penned in the caption: "FAKE NEWS!
"Can you spot the stories I’ve been seeding in the press? Multiple silly stories have been in the news over the last month, and they were all coordinated by me. Send them my way, with the hashtag #IsThisJoe? I’ll reveal all on Late Night Lycett, back next Friday, 10pm, @channel4."
The comedian added in the video: "I've got a game for you to play, the world's been turned upside down by fake news and I hate it! Unless, I'm the one faking it... for the last month, me and my team have been planting stupid, silly, fake news stories, about things that never actually happened in the hope that they would take up space that more hateful or polarising fake news might otherwise have used."
Joe did not reveal which stories he had created, asking fans to guess, and confirmed that all would be revealed on his new series of Late Night Lycett on Friday night. And the comedian stayed true to his word as he revealed the stories he had planted during his show on Friday night, claiming he and his team were behind a recent news story where someone had a bruise on their leg in the shape of "Prince Harry's face".
It was claimed earlier this month that a "footballer" called "Adam Price" playing a five-a-side game in Birmingham picked up a bruise shaped exactly like Prince Harry's face. However, Joe revealed on Friday's show that this was in fact "fake news", the comedian even revealed that the picture of "Adam Price" was in fact a picture of him on holiday.
Next up, the comedian revealed that he and his team were behind a fake study where men from Birmingham apparently have the biggest manhoods in the UK. Joe quipped: "Sounds like fact but only they don't, it's complete bulls**t from us!"
Joe then claimed that another story planted by him and his team was a recent new street painting, which many thought was Banksy with the latter even forced to deny they were behind the mural. However, the piece of art was in fact entirely "made up" by Joe and his team.
A mural depicting Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz sprang up overnight on the side of a bar in Birmingham - and delighted locals in England's "second city" had high hopes that it was a new creation from one of the UK's most famous artists.
The picture shows Dorothy reaching for some shiny red shoes on a wire and people were excited because it looked like something Banksy would do. However, it was revealed on Friday night's show that this was in fact planted by Joe and his team, the comedian said: "It got so much coverage that Banksy himself issued this statement: 'This work is not by the artist Banksy'", Joe then revealed the painting was in fact created by artist Dion Kitson, who also works on the show.
In another bombshell, it was revealed that Joe and his team were behind a story claiming Ian "H" Watkins from Steps was set to be honoured with an 8ft tall statue in his local town. Earlier this month, it was claimed that members of a local action group Cultural Cowbridge had plans for an 8ft tall statue in honour of the singer, claiming their project had been funded by "private donations and designed by a local artist."
Speaking about his reaction when he heard a "statue would be revealed in his honour", Ian admitted at the time that he "fell off [his] chair" as he faced "one of [his] proudest moments." The star said: "When I got the e-mail informing me, I fell off my chair. This is one of my proudest moments - not bad for a Welsh lad lots of people think is as daft as a toilet brush.
"I love calling Cowbridge my home and I’m very passionate about doing my bit to help make it a better, more inclusive, superb place to live. I’m so, so grateful to Cultural Cowbridge and all the donors who have helped make this possible. I look forward to walking down the street and waving at myself."
However, this was revealed to be fake news during Friday's show with Ian himself appearing via video to reveal it was in fact: "Fake news!", Joe added: "There's no statue of H, you heard it from H, we made that s**t up!"
Late Night Lycett continues on Friday nights at 10pm on Channel 4. Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.