A comedian known for mocking Liz Truss has used a regional daily to invite the former Prime Minister on to his new television programme.

Joe Lycett took out a full-page advertisement in the Eastern Daily Press in a bid to renew his acquaintance with Ms Truss.

Mr Lycett famously sarcastically applauded and declared support for the MP for South West Norfolk when they both appeared on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme prior to Ms Truss being elected to the Tory leadership.

In his letter to the EDP, in which he addressed the ex-PM as “Babe”, Mr Lycett shared his hope that she was “not too surprised to see me popping my head up from between the sheets (of your local regional newspaper the!!)”.

He added: “No I know you haven’t had the easiest few months, and I just want to reassure you of my 100pc continued support.

“I’ll be honest, Liz – I miss you. Not just in Downing Street but from my life.

“In the brief time we worked together, I felt like we struck up the kind of connection and rapport you get with all the great double acts like Ant and Dec or Holly and Phil (you’d be Phil).

“So I’ve spent the last few months plotting your route back to power and I think I’ve found the ideal first step. I’ve got a new live TV show starting on 31 March at 10pm on Channel 4 (thanks to your successor accidentally forgetting to abolish it) and I would love for you to join us.

“We’d give you a platform, allow you to speak your mind and allow at least three glasses of Echo Falls Pinot Grigio.”

Ms Truss declined to comment on Mr Lycett’s invitation when approached by the EDP.

Editor Richard Porritt told HTFP: “It was something of a surprise when the commercial team told me Joe Lycett wanted to take out a full-page advert.

“Once we had seen the proposal, we took the view that it was a bit of fun.

“We ran a news story in the same edition of the EDP telling the full story behind the advert.”