Late Night Lycett: Joe Lycett reveals his proudest moment on his Channel 4 chat show filmed in Birmingham

The back streets of Digbeth have been zoomed into a national spotlight like never before with Joe Lycett’s Channel 4 chat show aired live each Friday night.

The Brummie comedian has welcomed dazzling stars like Dame Joanna Lumley and Dame Joan Collins no less to Late Night Lycett - along with other household names, including Masked singer host Joel Dommett, reality TV royalty Gemma Collins and our own Brummie Queen, Alison Hammond.

There have been some crazy antics and a barrel load of laughs along the way - and now Joe has revealed his proudest moment. In addition to the fun and frivolity, the show has made roles for 24 local trainees on the show - that’s 20 more than the original four that were planned by the producers Rumpus Media (and they don’t include Linda Biscuits the dog!).

Joe said in an instagram post: “There’s lots that’s exciting about making #LateNightLycett but I’m most proud of this. We were so overwhelmed by the talent in Birmingham that we made roles for 26 local trainees on the show, rather than the 4 originally planned. And they’re absolutely smashing it.”

He also praised fellow Brummie comedian Guz Khan for being an inspiration behind the scheme, adding: “Props to @guzkhanofficial for having the idea on ‘Man Like Mobeen’ - we basically stole the idea from him - but also to the team at @rumpus_media for implementing it with such professionalism, thought and passion, plus to @filmbirmingham and @channel4 for chucking in some dosh for it. Brum4eva*. *until I inevitably move to Italy to become a nona.”

TV industry mag Broadcast has reported that Joe, himself, put out the original call out for Birmingham natives to apply on Twitter, saying ‘no matter their background’ to experience work in the industry.

The scheme is funded by Rumpus and Joe’s own company called My Options Were Limited and Channel 4’s 4 Skills and Film Birmingham. Rumpus subsequently received over 1,000 applications.

Of the 26 trainees, four are full-time working across the production and editorial teams on a five to six week placement, two part-time trainees in the art department, another two part-time in the camera and sound departments and four part-time series runners.

Fourteen applicants were also given the opportunity to work for one day as a runner in their chosen department. Lucy Rothery, director of operations at Rumpus Media said that the team were “blown away with how brilliant those we interviewed were.”

She added: “We decided to extend the opportunity so more people had the chance to work on the show; roles now include full and part time trainees, series runners and day runners.”

The trainees varied from Skye Broad, who is currently in her final year of university studying media production, to Aneesah Iqbal who studied journalism, but was working in marketing until she got the role.

Each Friday, the full time trainees receive a two-hour training session provided by Create Central which includes how to make a CV, as well as TV writing and production skills.

It is hoped that The Bond, which relaunched last month, along with Digbeth Loc Studios - the brainchild of Peaky Blinder creator Steven Knight - will open up more opportunities for creative talent in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

An additional 760 local jobs have been forecast for Digbeth Loc, which is also expected to contribute more than £30m to the West Midlands economy and is being developed with Steven’s business partner Time+Space chief executive Piers Read.

Last week it was unveiled that long-running BBC1 drama Silent Witness is relocating to the West Midlands, following the MasterChef brand in moving to the area.

Joe previously told Broad cast that he frequently tries to crew up with local talent from the Birmingham Young Filmmakers Network and added that “young people are just so excited to get into the industry, it really changes the atmosphere and vibe of the shoot.”