In 2021, the comedian took on Shell, battled Hugo Boss and became the nemesis of Peppa Pig. He talks about taking over as Channel 4’s Travel Man – and the three-year-long stunt he’s about to unveil to the world

Joe Lycett has a problem: he can’t seem to perfect his roast potatoes. “I love cooking and I love the challenge of a roast,” he says, “but when I parboil my potatoes, it wanders into mash a little too quickly.”
In a pub in north
London, Lycett is discussing the pitfalls of cooking
Christmas dinner – something he’s no stranger to. “One Christmas I had the
Turkey in a flimsy tray,” he continues, “and I managed to bend it, sending the turkey fat all over the floor. My kitchen was like an ice rink for the rest of the day, which added a level of peril that was quite entertaining.”