Forget traditional festive snapshots. Comedian Lee Mack's family photo albums are filled with images of his mother removing her false teeth and his father with a cigarette stuck up his nose – all in the relentless pursuit of a laugh. This upbringing, he reveals, laid the unconventional foundation for a career that sees him now hosting a major television event.
From Stable Yard to Stage: An Unlikely Start
Long before he became a household name, Lee Mack's first foray into entrepreneurship was decidedly earthy. As a teenage aspiring jockey working for trainer Ginger McCain, he looked after the legendary Grand National winner Red Rum – the first horse he ever rode. Spotting an opportunity, he began selling bags of the champion's manure for 50p each, famously claiming it was "good for rhubarb!"
Now 57, Mack is preparing to host The 1% Club Rollover, a special five-night event on ITV starting Monday at 9pm. The prize pot has ballooned to a life-changing £500,000. Ironically, Mack confesses he would likely never win his own show, citing a poor memory for facts. He recalls the pilot episode, saying, "I didn't get any laughs, as everyone was intrigued by the questions. I thought 'this is a good format as my jokes are brilliant!'"
Balancing Comedy and Tragedy
Behind the relentless humour lies a life marked by profound personal loss. Mack speaks movingly about the death of his brother, Darren McKillop, in 2014 from an overdose of anti-depressants at age 47. On Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast, he clarified, "He did take his own life, but it was alcohol connected." He agrees with the inquest's 'misadventure' verdict, calling it a fair assessment.
Mack reveals that his brother and his publican parents all died from alcohol-related issues. His own decision to quit drinking came after reading Allen Carr's Easy Way book (not the comedian, he jokes). "I just suddenly for the first time saw alcohol for what it was, and decided I just wasn't interested," he explains.
His childhood on a tough Blackburn estate, centred around the family pub, was chaotic but rich in comic material. "My dad was as close as you can get to being a comedian without being paid for it. It's like a little stage being behind a bar," Mack says. He even notes his father was the spitting image of comedian Bobby Ball, who later played his dad in Mack's sitcom.
The Class Clown Who Made It
Mack's academic journey was a steep decline. "I dug out my school reports. It is literally like a declining graph," he admits, scraping through with just two O-levels. The slide coincided with his parents' split when he was 11, and he became the class clown. Inspired by alternative comedy and a life-changing night at The Comedy Store in 1990, he eventually found his calling.
He met his wife, Tara, during Fresher's Week at university, and they have been together for 32 years. He credits shared humour for their lasting marriage. From the moment he first picked up a microphone at a gig, he knew comedy was his destiny.
Despite his stage name, Lee Mack insists he is "only 5% Lee Mack." "On my passport is Lee McKillop, my bank account is Lee McKillop... I'm 95% not that person. It's just the one person who occasionally does this act." That act now culminates in hosting one of ITV's biggest quiz events, a far cry from selling manure but built on the same irreverent spirit.
The 1% Club Rollover airs on ITV for five nights from Monday at 9pm.
