On the art of stand-up

For BBC New Comedy Awards

More Lee Mack videos

Born in Blackburn and raised in Southport, Lee Mack started in comedy after a series of casual jobs, including stableboy and working in a bingo hall. His first taste of stand-up came as a Pontin's bluecoat.

His frist experience of the wider circuit came in 1994, when he did his first open mike slot while a student at Brunel University, West London. Within 18 months, he had won the So You Think You're Funny new act competition at the 1995 Edinburgh Fringe and become a full-time comedian.

In 1996, he returned to the festival as part of an ensemble show, Gagging For It, and the following year he performed the solo show Return Of The Mack. He had some level of fame by then, having hosted the Channel 4 stand-up show Gas, but found the experience of performing alone disheartening.

So in 1999, he teamed up with Catherine Tate and Dan Antopolski for the Fringe sketch show Lee Mack's Bits, and the 2000 follow-up was nominated for the Perrier. On the strength of that, Mack became one of the key players in ITV's The Sketch Show, which ran from 2001 to 2003. He was the only member of the UK cast to feature in the short-lived American remake, introduced by Kelsey Grammer, in 2004.

The following year he landed the job of host on BBC One sports quiz They Think It's All Over, taking over from Nick Hancock. But the programme was cancelled after one series with Mack in the chair.

He then moved to sitcom, premiering the traditional studio-based Not Going Out on BBC One in October 2006, at a time when that style was thought to be dead. The show returned for a second series in September 2007 and a third in January 2009. It has won Rose d'Or and Royal Television Society awards.

Mack is also a team captain on the BBC One panel show Would I Lie To You?

Lee Mack: Going Out
Live Review
Andover The Lights

Lee Mack is probably the only famous comic of modern times to have served his apprenticeship as a Pontin’s bluecoat. On the strength of this bravura performance, breathlessly pacey and full of irresistible good cheer, the holiday camp circuit would still serve as the perfect drill sergeant for any stand-up in search of a bullet-proof delivery.

Mind you, Mack was sacked for inadvertently calling his audience the sort of four-letter word that would get this page blocked by all but the laxest firewalls, so it’s clear he’s not fully adopted the family-friendly approach of those seaside getaways that taught him so much stagecraft.

And that’s the joy of this blisteringly funny show, still officially in previews. It’s reassuringly old-fashioned, yet with modern sensibilities – making it seem as fresh as it is familiar. Not for nothing is Mack inevitably compared to Eric Morecambe, as he’s got that effortless cheeky charm that ensures you love him even when he’s insulting you. Hell, you love him BECAUSE he’s insulting you.

His mischievous banter is a joy, teasing the women for being old or badly-dressed, and the men for being paedophiles. They’re not just throwaway jibes, though, but set-ups for solid jokes, lifted by the propellant of spontaneity provided by Mack’s quick-witted backchat. Elements of the audience here in Andover are surprisingly frisky, but he spins every audience interaction – even the seemingly less welcome interruptions – into ribald quips.

He’s a one-man gang show, the force of his knockabout performance rarely less than phenomenal, especially when he splutters in mock outrage at not being treated with the respect a professional artiste deserves.

Personality is paramount but the material’s working hard too. You’re probably never more than 30 seconds from another punchline, whether it be a daft pun, good-natured abuse, or something saucily sexual, like a McGill seaside postcard updated for the 2010s and made flesh by Mack’s spirited energy. Though some of this is far too racy for the 11-year-olds in the audience; be in no doubt that this is an adult show.

Even when Mack tries to quieten the atmosphere, dropping his voice for some false sincerity about, say, the death of Michael Jackson, his inherent daftness is such that the air is heavy with anticipation, titters foreshadowing the hilarious line that is sure to come along and undermine the mood.

There’s the odd ‘pull-back-to-reveal’ gag or guessable wordplay, but other than that he’s an unpredictable cyclone, keeping the audience on their toes by bombarding them with jokes so fast you can’t keep up. Sometimes broad, sometimes subtle, he never loses the capacity to surprise, nor to spread the bawdy fun, teasing the audience until the entire set becomes one big in-joke we’re all in on.

You’re guaranteed not to learn anything in this show, nor hear any point of view – a style which has been largely, and undeservedly, out of fashion. But that scarcity only makes Mack’s breezy approach seem even more refreshing.

It may only be mid-January, but we already have a contender for the most uncomplicatedly funny show of the year, full of belly laughs from start to finish. If you can’t enjoy this, maybe comedy’s not really for you…

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I saw Lee a few times this year I think he is absolutely fantastic. Love him heaps xx

Sam, December 2010

Saw Lee at Hammersmith on Monday - so good. He is such a naturally funny man. His warm up guy on the other hand was terrible. Not funny but racist, sexist and boring.Get rid Lee if you want any advice.

Laura Knox, May 2010

Great show last night in Liverpool. Lee Mack is great!

Stephen Dunn, May 2010

I also saw lee in buxton, it was fantastic, I was the one that told him that he left muddy footprints on stage

sambo, March 2010

I saw Lee at Buxton and I thought he was fantastic. Extremely funny, great participation with the audience especially the start where he locked a member of the audience up in a box like a magic trick! He obviously researches the local area and includes this in his jokes. I would advise everyone to go and see Lee. A great, fun night which still makes me laugh now thinking of his jokes.

Fan of Comedy, March 2010

One of the best northern comedians EVER! Very talented

Daisy Shaun, March 2010

Lee Mack was brilliant at Cardiff last night. The show was full of new material. Lee does a lot of audience participation during the show which illustrates how skilful a comedian he is. He has a warmth and personality that draws the audience in- which allows him to get away with some risky jokes. Lee discusses the venues and the location of the gig in a funny and unique way. He has the energy of Lee Evans. The audience banter of Stephen K Amos. He also reminds me of Eric Morecambe. Lee depends on audience participation more than the other comics which makes each of his shows so unique. Even though I have compared Lee to some great comedians lets not forget he is totally unique in his delivery of material, style of jokes . I would definitely go and see him again. ***** (and that is not a a swear word)!

Jonathan Fry, Cardiff, February 2010

I want to marry lee. he is that funny xx

karon, September 2009

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