Now, Father’s Day isn’t about figuring out who the best dad in the world actually is – Hallmark card recognition doesn’t count – but a little healthy competition never hurt anyone.
Mark Hoyle – known best to fans as LadBaby – has been crowned champion of the Clas Ohlson Celebrity Dad of the Year 2018 award, beating royalty and sporting superstars alike to this prestigious accolade.
And what a deserved winner he is. The 31-year-old proud papa has had us all chuckling with his hilarious YouTube channel where he diligently documents his journey from ‘Lad to Dad.’
Fans warmed immediately to Mark’s down-to-earth honesty and daft sense of humour.
Most of all, we loved the closeness of the young family and their relatable, ever entertaining adventures together, from KFC Easter egg hunts to child proofing the BBQ.
Viewers genuinely care about the refreshingly normal lives of likeable Mark, his wife Roxanne and their little boy Phoenix.
And when Roxanne recently gave birth to their second child – an experience they shared with an emotional labour video – there wasn’t a dry eye on YouTube.
Head of Marketing at Clas Ohlson, Melissa Titshall, offered the following congratulations to the YouTube personality:
We couldn’t be more pleased to announce Mark as our winner for 2018, and we wish him all the best for the future. To help celebrate his win, we’re also pleased to offer him £500 to spend in Clas Ohlson, we can’t wait to see what he spends it on!
The Clas Ohlson ‘Celebrity Dad of the Year’ award is not only about celebrating famous dads, but also to shine a light on the great work that dads do across the UK. Mark has shown us and the public just what family life is like behind closed doors and, in doing so, has amassed millions of dedicated followers.
Posting excitedly on Instagram, LadBaby himself announced:
OH MY GOD…WE ONLY WENT AND DID IT!!Yes maaaaaaaaaaaaaate.
Honestly honestly honestly I can’t thank each and every one of you enough for voting for me. Totally shocked and overwhelmed!
Not only am I now OFFICIALLY Clas Ohlson UK ‘Celebrity’ Dad Of The Year for 2018…but I‘m now the first person to have ever beaten Anthony Joshua.
LadBaby has beaten a fair few high profile – and fancy – dads when claiming his title, including the likes of Anthony Joshua, Simon Cowell, Liam Payne and even Prince William.
Not bad at all for a sausage-roll obsessed lad who describes himself as not having ‘a clue’ what he’s doing.
LadBaby told UNILAD:
I’m shocked and overwhelmed at being crowned Celebrity Dad Of The Year 2018. To be honest I thought it was a joke when I first saw my name on the list as I’ve never consider myself a celebrity before but full credit to the incredible LadBaby fans and followers who were determined to make it happen.
I still can’t quite believe a bloke from Nottingham with a full time job, a passion for winding up his missus and a deep routed love for sausage rolls has beaten the future king of England, but a HUGE thanks to everyone that supported me and I promise to keep hacking parenthood and making fatherhood great again!
Fans are delighted by Mark’s victory, with one person tweeting:
Yessss Mate!!!! Sausage rolls all round !!!!
Another said:
A beautiful new baby and Dad of the year! What more could a man want? Congratulations!
Mark, you clearly have this dad business down to a fine art. Never change and enjoy your well-deserved £500 voucher.
Just make sure to film your upcoming shopping outing for the rest of us to enjoy!
If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via stories@unilad.co.uk
Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.