...but is the comic up to something bigger?

Joe Lycett has called off the launch of his toilet-based podcast after a stunt to launch it went wrong.

The comic had hoped to unveil a giant, inflatable, fully-functioning portable toilet at Liverpool Docks yesterday to launch his Turdcast.

But the device malfunctioned, sending a ‘spillage’ into the water.

Writing on social media today, Lycett said: ‘Following the incident yesterday at Liverpool Albert Docks and an ongoing investigation into the sewage spilled into the waters, it has been concluded that it would be inappropriate to launch the podcast today, and we've therefore made the decision to cancel the podcast indefinitely.

‘I'm very sorry to disappoint and hope that we can launch soon. I'd like to reiterate that it was entirely safe and managed by the team very swiftly. I'll be releasing more information in due course.’

However some fans suspected the cancellation was part of a bigger stunt – especially given Lycett’s track record of attention-grabbing misdirections.

One posted on X: ‘This is all part of an elaborate plan surely..?’, another said: ‘Is it a joke? Is it real? Joe Lycett constantly keeping us in a situationship with reality’ and a third asked: ‘Is this part of some "the government can pour sewage into canals and rivers but when Joe Lycett does it, it's wrong" type stunt? if so  i'm here for it.’

Fans had been invited to ‘walk the brown carpet, spend a penny/drop a plop and share their own loo-themed stories’ on the toilet – dubbed The Turdis – with the best anecdotes recorded for inclusion in the podcast. Hundreds were said to have attended the planned launch.

Yesterday Lycett said: ‘In a bitter twist of irony, severe wind caused us problems in fully erecting The Turdis. I’m relieved to say the spillage was dealt with immediately so that the beautiful waters at the docks weren’t damaged. Huge thanks to the lovely people of Liverpool who made it down.’

The comic had chosen Liverpool primarily because it contained the letters ‘poo’. He explained: ‘I considered several aptly-named places to launch my toilet podcast - Hartlepool, Mudchute, Crapstone - but only Liverpool offered me the requisite lettering alongside proximity to a Nandos and affordable rates at an Ibis.’

Ah we thought it was just on a break. Ah well cocktails next door it is. #finishmeoff #turdis pic.twitter.com/HY6Qo78uW0

— Francis (@Fezmania) November 23, 2023

The Turdis had reportedly been scheduled go on tour to other suitably named UK locations  including Hartlepool next Thursday and Ramsbottom on December 14.

Gary Lineker was billed as the guest for the first episode,  discussing the now legendary moment he relieved himself on the pitch in England’s opening game of the 1990 World Cup in front of hundreds of millions of people, Gazza farting during team baths and more. 

Lycett announced Turdcast last week, promising a ‘safe space for celebrities to flush out their most satisfying, horrifying and frankly awful toilet stories’.

He said:  ‘It's a side of life we don't hear enough from celebrities, whether that's due to shyness, modesty or sheer self-disgust

‘Famous people are just like you or me -  they sometimes find themselves experiencing a blissful quarter of an hour with a novel and a multipack of Cushelle, or flooring it down the M6 in a race against time to find a Welcome Break cubicle.

‘Let’s face it, most podcasts are just celebrities talking shit – Turdcast will now make that official. We've all got a toilet story to tell, and you'll hear them all on the No1 number two podcast.’

• UPDATE: This was, as many suspected, all part of a bigger stunt. Click here to read the full story

Published: 24 Nov 2023