Joe Lycett to host new live TV show from inside a working pub he can't yet legally run
British comedian Joe Lycett is launching a new live television show broadcast from a real pub he will operate, despite having so far failed the licensing exam required to run it. He will also appear later this year on The Celebrity Traitors.
Comedian Joe Lycett is preparing to launch a new live television show, Live from the Lycett Arms, a follow-up to his earlier Friday-night programme Late Night Lycett but with a bigger twist — this time he will host the show while also running an actual working pub.
The pub is being built in a fashionable part of east London, though at the time of the interview, just weeks before the first episode, construction was not yet finished. Lycett described the planned venue as including an outdoor area, a cellar, a bar, a back room, a saloon bar, a pool table, darts and karaoke.
A licensing hiccup
Because the Lycett Arms will be a genuine licensed pub, Lycett is required to hold a Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders to legally operate it. He admitted he recently sat the qualifying exam and failed, having not studied — scoring around 38% against the required 70%. He insisted the show will go ahead regardless, with a stand-in licensee available if needed.
From the first week, a celebrity will do a trial shift managing the bar, while Lycett's aunts will work as bar staff. The show will also feature a weekly quiz, rotating regular customers, and surprise celebrity visitors dropping in for a drink.
Fatherhood and a return to standup
Lycett also discussed how becoming a father nearly two years ago has changed his routine, saying he now often goes to bed around seven in the evening. He has also returned to standup comedy after stepping away for a couple of years, performing roughly once a week since last October as he prepares for a tour next year.
Later this year, Lycett will appear on The Celebrity Traitors, though he remained tight-lipped about details, citing strict confidentiality requirements. Live from the Lycett Arms premieres on Fridays at 10pm on Channel 4.
