Joe Lycett's Christmas special cancelled due to Covid
- Joe Lycett's planned Channel 4 Christmas special, Mummy's Big Christmas Do!, has been cancelled
- The live broadcast from Birmingham has been shelved due to concerns around the Omicron variant
- Lycett says: "I'm obviously gutted - we had a very fun, loud and colourful show and I hope one day we can do it for you"
Mummy's Big Christmas Do!, the forthcoming one-off Channel 4 special hosted by Joe Lycett, has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
The "queer-themed Christmas entertainment extravaganza" was due to be broadcast live from Birmingham on Wednesday 22nd December at 10pm, featuring "a specially-invited audience made up of LGBTQ+ icons, allies of the LGBTQ+ community, and local heroes."
The episode's blurb teased that Lycett's show would "light up Brum in the colours of the rainbow, including a vogue ball featuring a performance from Self Esteem and drag queens. Joe will reveal stories from an audience of the proudest and loudest to decide who has been naughty or nice. We'll also find out Joe's top 'huns' of 2021, plus a surprising guest in his closet, and someone will take a trip into 'Mummy's Pleasure Dungeon' to win prizes from Santa's sack. A whole host of naughty and nice celebs will drop by, including Lorraine Kelly, John Whaite, Suzi Ruffell, Rosie Jones, Munroe Bergdorf, drag stars Bimini Bon Boulash, Tayce, Baga Chipz and Jodie Harsh, plus social media icon Charity Shop Sue, and the ultimate hun - Kim Woodburn. It all builds to the epic finale: Joe's alternative nativity! So strap in and strap on for a Crimbo party that will make your eyes water."
However the 90 minute special will now not take place, at least not this December.
The comedian posted on his Twitter account a statement saying: "Unfortunately due to the progression of the omicron variant I am very sad to announce we have cancelled next week's Mummy's Big Christmas Do! on Channel 4.
"Live TV involves a huge amount of people. Mummy doesn't want any of my team at risk! I'm obviously gutted - we had a very fun, loud and colourful show and I hope one day we can do it for you."
Last week Channel 4 announced it was postponing the National Comedy Awards until 2022 citing the large scale event couldn't take at the present time due "the uncertainty around the Omicron variant".
Channel 4 has not yet updated its schedule to remove Mummy's Big Christmas Do!, so it is not yet known what programme will be repeated in its place.