Joe Lycett, Eventim Apollo review - prankster goes long-form

Joe Lycett’s career was on an upward trajectory when he took on hosting duties on The Great British Sewing Bee, and the crafting show delivered a whole new audience for his live comedy. But anybody thinking that his sweet-natured wit was all there was to Lycett might be taken aback by some of his stand-up material.

And so it proves in his new show, More, More, More! How Do You Lycett? How Do You Lycett? (a title he says was foisted on him by his agent), which was Covid-delayed and contains a section referencing a “giant donkey dick” – which some humourless person referred to the police, a tale that Lycett recounts with some vim.

There’s a large onstage screen as a lot of the show involves screen grabs from the comic’s social media accounts. Keen followers of Lycett online will already be familiar with some of the show’s content – his Twitter spats with Alan Sugar, for example (I think it’s fair to say Lycett won’t be appearing on Celebrity Apprentice any day soon) – and there are other social media-related gags that have been around for a while, including Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries retweeting Lycett's spoof support for the Prime Minister.

But some bear repetition as Lycett has used social media to great effect to prank the corporate (and seemingly irony-free) world, who often don’t realise when they  are being played until it’s too late to back down with any dignity, and  Lycett’s account of his method to get “free shit” by calling himself an influencer (using SodaStream as an example) is a heady mix of silliness, faux innocence and filth.

The thrust of the show, though, is  about Lycett’s first long-form prank which was sparked by the protests by a few parents in Birmingham about a school including LGBT people in its relationships curriculum. What follows (and the audience is asked not to reveal) is part love letter to his hometown (Lycett comes from Kings Heath), part cry for tolerance, and part bloody good wheeze.

It’s a complicated tale and, while much of the subterfuge he describes appears unnecessary as there's little jeopardy (although it does add value to the yarn),  it’s an entertaining tale well told, with some very big laughs along the way.

• Joe Lycett is touring until 23 September 
• More comedy reviews on theartsdesk