‘They had incredibly strong feelings for one another:’ Joe Lycett discovers his great grandfather had ‘an intense friendship with a man’ on Who Do You Think You Are?
He is open about his own sexuality, often weaving his bisexual orientation into his comedic routines.
And Joe Lycett has recently discovered that his ancestors may too have had a ‘queer’ history after filming for BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?.
The comedian, 33, revealed that his great grandfather, Robert Wilkinson, on his mum’s side, had ‘an intense friendship with a man’ which ended dramatically.
‘What happened was very dramatic!’ Joe Lycett has recently discovered that his ancestors may too have had a ‘queer’ history after filming for BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?
Joe said in an interview about the upcoming episode: ‘Queer stories from the past are pretty difficult to find as they were rarely documented. Robert’s could be just have been an intense friendship with a man, or something more.
‘Either way, they had incredibly strong feelings for one another that become poisonous.’
The Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back host also revealed that a lack of documentation surrounding Robert and wanting to cling onto a story similar to his own could have given him rose-tinted glasses.
![Open book: He is open about his own sexuality, often weaving his bisexual orientation into his comedic routines](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/26/01/49634871-10130329-image-a-166_1635207262307.jpg)
Open book: He is open about his own sexuality, often weaving his bisexual orientation into his comedic routines
!['Dramatic' history: The comedian revealed that his great grandfather, Robert Wilkinson, on his mum's side had 'an intense friendship with a man' which ended dramatically](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/26/01/49635749-10130329-image-a-18_1635208993510.jpg)
‘Dramatic’ history: The comedian revealed that his great grandfather, Robert Wilkinson, on his mum’s side had ‘an intense friendship with a man’ which ended dramatically
‘It became difficult for me to see Robert’s story clearly, as I had so little to go on and couldn’t work out how much of his story I was applying my own history onto.
‘Regardless, what happened was very dramatic!’
The interviewer also suggested that the discovery caused Joe to become ‘quite emotional’, as they uncovered Robert’s mental illness, too.
![Rose-tinted glasses? He also revealed that a lack of documentation surrounding Robert and wanting to cling onto a story similar to his own could have given him rose-tinted glasses](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/26/01/49635755-10130329-image-a-20_1635209089123.jpg)
Rose-tinted glasses? He also revealed that a lack of documentation surrounding Robert and wanting to cling onto a story similar to his own could have given him rose-tinted glasses
‘Mental illness is woefully catered for in 2021 – it was much worse back in Robert’s time. He had been through some awful times and struggled with alcohol abuse.
‘Fortunately the legal system spared him from the ultimate sentencing. Interestingly, because of the nature of information when he was alive, I expect most of his family never knew about his struggles with mental illness and the crimes he committed.
‘So it felt strange to think that I knew more about him potentially than his own children and wife.’
!['Emotional': The interviewer also suggested that the discovery caused Joe to become 'quite emotional', as they uncovered Robert's mental illness, too](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/26/01/49635725-10130329-image-a-19_1635209080507.jpg)
‘Emotional’: The interviewer also suggested that the discovery caused Joe to become ‘quite emotional’, as they uncovered Robert’s mental illness, too
His appearance on the show comes as the television presenter stormed off Steph’s Packed Lunch live on air in July after being questioned over using a single-use plastic bottle in incredibly awkward scenes.
Joe appeared on the Channel 4 show to discuss how working out can help you sleep better but was seen taking off his microphone and leaving the set after presenter Steph McGovern made the comment.
Earlier in the episode Joe had explained that he had stopped using single-use plastic in his home in an attempt to help the environment.
![Awkward: His appearance on the show comes as he stormed off Steph's Packed Lunch live on air in July after being questioned over using a single-use plastic bottle](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/26/01/49635049-10130329-image-a-169_1635207509281.jpg)
Awkward: His appearance on the show comes as he stormed off Steph’s Packed Lunch live on air in July after being questioned over using a single-use plastic bottle
Steph then spotted a plastic bottle beside his deckchair in a photo by his garden and asked: ‘Isn’t that one of the bottles you said you’d stopped using, in that picture?’
After a long pause Joe then replied: ‘I didn’t realise I was on Newsnight…’
While awkwardly laughing, Steph continued to introduce the rest of the episode, while the camera panned to Joe taking his microphone off and walking off stage.
Joe Lycett’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? airs on Tuesday 2nd November at 9pm on BBC One.
![Oh dear! While awkwardly laughing, Steph continued to introduce the rest of the episode, while the camera panned to Joe taking his microphone off and walking off stage](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/26/01/49635051-10130329-image-a-170_1635207534604.jpg)
Oh dear! While awkwardly laughing, Steph continued to introduce the rest of the episode, while the camera panned to Joe taking his microphone off and walking off stage