Celebrity Traitors star Joe Lycett says he's excited to show another side after being typecast as the 'gay comedian off the telly' and is ready to take on the challenges after becoming a father

Joe Lycett has opened up about being typecast as the ‘gay comedian off the telly’ ahead of his stint on Celebrity Traitors - and revealed he has been getting fitter in a bid to become a ‘better dad’.

The 38-year-old comedian is among the famous faces entering the castle for the second series of the hit BBC show, where he expects his laid-back personality to raise eyebrows after ditching his usual ‘performance mode’.

Joe, who welcomed a baby boy with his mystery girlfriend in 2024, said fellow contestants could be surprised by just how calm he is away from the spotlight.

The comedian previously had to insist the arrival of his son was genuine after fans suspected the announcement was one of his elaborate pranks.

Now, speaking to the BBC ahead of filming, Joe said: ‘When I started doing stand-up, my on and off-stage persona were quite similar. I showed off at parties because I wanted attention and then, gradually, as I got that attention through doing stand-up, I could calm down in real life.

‘When I’m not out on stage, I’m very calm, thoughtful and peaceful.

‘I think the comics know what I'm like on and off stage, but I think the others who, for the first time, will spend time with me not in ‘show mode’ might see that as suspicious.’

He also admitted he regularly encounters assumptions about his sexuality because of his public persona.

Celebrity Traitors star Joe Lycett has said he's excited to show another side after being typecast as the 'gay comedian off the telly' and is ready to take on the challenges after becoming a father

Joe, who welcomed a baby boy with his mystery girlfriend in 2024, said fellow contestants could be surprised by just how calm he is away from the spotlight

The TV host has previously described himself as being ‘pansexual’ which means that he is attracted to a person, no matter their gender.

‘I definitely come across assumptions of ‘oh, he's the gay comedian off the telly’ and I explain I've got a female partner and a son with said female partner,’ he said.

‘I’m really quite a tranquil individual when not in performance mode, which may surprise some.’

Joe is known for his brightly coloured and flamboyant outfits, and when asked if he has some good looks for the castle, he responded: 'I think so. There's a lot of variety and silly stuff that I might not get to wear at all if I end up doing a Paloma. 

'I’ll just wear them for the supermarket shop if that happens.'

And when it comes to the gruelling missions, Joe has been working on his physical fitness too.

Asked about the missions, he said: ‘That's the bit I'm most excited about.

‘I've been trying to get fitter and stronger over the last few months, just for my own well-being and to be a better father and all of that.

‘I'm incredibly strong now. As strong as an ox. Fierce as well. As fierce as a tiger.’

Joe also revealed his long-running enthusiasm for The Traitors, admitting he is such a fan of the show that he once slid into the DMs of production company Studio Lambert asking for access to all the behind-the-scenes footage.

Joe, known for his brightly coloured and flamboyant outfits, said he has some good looks prepared for the Scottish castle 

‘That first year I sent a DM on Twitter, which was not responded to, to Studio Lambert to ask if they could send me all the rushes,’ he said.

‘I just was so hit by it and wanted more. I am just thrilled to be part of the universe of The Traitors and to have been asked.’

Meanwhile, fellow funnyman James Acaster admitted the unusually high number of comedians in this year's cast could leave them all under suspicion.

‘There will be suspicions that it’s going to be at least one of these guys, that we might form an alliance if we’re not broken apart,’ he said.

‘I think we're going to be the first ones under the magnifying glass being looked at. Particularly at the beginning when you have absolutely nothing to go on.

‘And then you consider that a comedian won last year with Alan Carr disarming everyone with jokes the whole time. He has tainted us all!’

He even joked that the presence of mathematician Hannah Fry could spell trouble for the comedians.

‘Hannah Fry will probably tell you that probability-wise, there’s most likely to be at least one comic chosen as a Traitor because there's enough of us,’ he said.

The Celebrity Traitors starts on Thursday, October 1 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

‘Even though it could obviously easily be three people who aren't comedians… I don't know how it works out, but if maths turns against us we're in big trouble.’

The new series of Celebrity Traitors will begin on October 1 at 8pm with an extra-long opening episode. 

Joining host Claudia in the Scottish Highlands are Amol Rajan, Bella Ramsey, James Acaster, James Blunt, Jerry Hall, Joanne McNally, Joe Lycett, Julie Hesmondhalgh, King Kenny and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.

Maya Jama, Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Myha'la, Professor Hannah Fry, Richard E. Grant, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Ross Kemp, Sebastian Croft and Sharon Rooney complete the line up.

They will play the ultimate game of detection, trust and betrayal in the hope of winning a cash prize up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.

The Celebrity Traitors line-up 2026

 Jerry Hall

Jerry Hall rose to fame in the 1970s and became one of the era's most recognisable fashion icons (pictured in October) 

Richard E. Grant

Richard E. Grant celebrated for his roles in everything from cult classic Withnail & I to modern flicks such as Everybody's Talking About Jamie (Pictured in November) 

 James Blunt

James Blunt shot to global fame with his debut album and the hit single 'You're Beautiful'

 Ross Kemp

Ross Kemp who recently returned to EastEnders to reprise his role as hardman Grant Mitchell, is said to be wanting to 'challenge himself'

 Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen is celebrated for his incredible performances across stage and screen, particularly his work in Good Omens and The Queen

 Rob Beckett

Best friend of fellow Traitors star Romesh, Rob Beckett is known for his high-energy and booming laugh

 Sharon Rooney

Sharon Rooney is best known for her breakout role as Rae Earl in the acclaimed series My Mad Fat Diary

 Joanne McNally

Joanne McNally is known for her brutally honest humour and hilarious takes on dating, chaos, and modern life

 Amol Rajan

Journalist and broadcaster Amol Rajan has carved out a successful career across major UK media, including radio and television

 King Kenny

King Kenny, whose real name is Kenny Ojuederie, is a content creator known for prank videos and street-style social experiments

 Sebastian Croft

Sebastian Croft is best known for his breakout role as Ben Hope in the Netflix series Heartstopper

  Maya Jama

Maya Jama, 31, is quickly becoming one of the UK's most popular stars and famously fronts Love Island.

 Miranda Hart

Miranda Hart broke through with her hit sitcom Miranda which became a resounding success and cemented her as a comedy legend

Romesh Ranganathan

Romesh Ranganathan has been taking British TV by storm in recent years is known for his deadpan delivery

 James Acaster

James Acaster is good friends with Ed Gamble who hosts The Traitors: Uncloaked. The duo present the hit food podcast Off Menu with Ed Gamble

 Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey rose to fame as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones and gained global acclaim for their leading role in The Last Of Us

 Leigh-Anne Pinnock

Leigh-Anne Pinnock is known as a member of the girl group Little Mix, who found fame on The X Factor back in 2011

 Joe Lycett

From headline-grabbing TV stunts to cleverly staged public pranks, Joe Lycett has built a reputation as one of Britain's most inventive and unpredictable comics

 Hannah Fry

Mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry is known for turning complex data into content which is engaging and accessible to viewers

 Julie Hesmondhalgh

Julie Hesmondhalgh is best known for her long-running role as Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street, which made history as the first transgender character in a British soap opera

 Myha'la

Myha'la is known for her striking portrayal of brutal fintech expert Harper Stern in the HBO drama Industry