Lee Mack

Lee Gordon McKillop, known professionally as Lee Mack, is a British comedian and television presenter who has become a staple of UK entertainment. Born in Southport and raised in Blackburn, he transitioned from a childhood spent in his father's pub to becoming one of the country's most recognizable faces on screen. His career spans decades of stand-up touring, sketch comedy, and writing, but he is best known for creating, co-writing, and starring in the long-running sitcom Not Going Out. The show, which premiered in 2006, has run for over fifteen series and remains a ratings powerhouse on BBC One.

Beyond his sitcom work, Mack serves as a permanent team captain on the ITV panel show Would I Lie to You?, where his quick wit and ability to tell convincing lies have made him a fan favorite alongside host David Mitchell. In 2022, he expanded his hosting portfolio by taking over the game show The 1% Club, demonstrating his versatility in guiding contestants through complex logic puzzles. As of 2026, he continues to balance his busy schedule between filming new episodes of his hit show, hosting game shows, and performing live stand-up tours across the UK and Ireland. [edit]

Lee Mack was born Lee Gordon McKillop in Southport, Lancashire, but his formative years were spent in Blackburn, where his father Jim owned the Black Horse pub. Growing up in this environment exposed him early to performance and storytelling, though he did not immediately pursue comedy as a career path. He attended St Mary's College School in Blackburn before moving to Manchester to study Drama and Theatre Studies at the University of Salford. It was during these university years that he began performing stand-up comedy in local clubs across the North West of England.

His breakthrough moment arrived in 1995 when he won the prestigious So You Think You're Funny competition at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This victory provided the financial boost and industry recognition necessary for him to transition from a club circuit performer to a professional comedian. He adopted the stage name "Lee Mack" early in his career to distinguish himself and create a memorable brand distinct from his birth name. Following this win, he spent several years honing his craft with stand-up tours and radio appearances, gradually building a reputation for his distinctive "quick-fire" gag style before landing his first major television roles. [edit]

Mack's career trajectory moved from stand-up to sketch comedy, then to sitcom creation, and finally to high-profile hosting roles. After his 1995 Edinburgh win, he joined the cast of Channel 4's The Sketch Show in 2001, created by Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse. This role showcased his character work alongside other comedians like Sally Phillips and Tim Key. By 2003, he had co-written and starred in The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse and began developing material for his own sitcom.

In 2006, Not Going Out premiered on BBC One. Created with Simon Nye, the show stars Mack as "Lee," a lovable but often clueless man living with his girlfriend (later wife) Sarah and their daughter Lucy. It became a ratings powerhouse, running for over 15 series. That same year, he married Amy Gledhill, who plays his on-screen wife in the show. In 2007, he became a permanent team captain on the revived version of Would I Lie to You? on ITV, replacing Sean Lock. His chemistry with host David Mitchell and partner Rob Brydon made the show a staple of British comedy.

Throughout the 2010s, he continued to tour extensively with live stand-up shows and appeared in films such as St Trinian's and The Inbetweeners Movie. In 2022, he took over as the host of The 1% Club, a logic-based quiz show on ITV, expanding his portfolio beyond acting and panel shows into serious game show hosting. As of 2026, he celebrated the 20th anniversary of Not Going Out and announced plans to end the sitcom after its current run while continuing to host The 1% Club and join the cast of Amazon Prime Video's Last One Laughing. [edit]

Lee Mack is portrayed as a relatable, everyman figure whose public image is built on being "one of the lads." He is known for his clean humor, avoiding controversial topics in favor of observational comedy about everyday life. His aesthetic is casual, often seen in jeans and t-shirts, reinforcing his approachable persona. He does not take himself too seriously, a trait that has endeared him to audiences across the UK.

Media perception of Mack centers on his consistency and reliability as a comedian. Unlike some peers who chase controversy, he focuses on safe, family-friendly entertainment that appeals to a broad demographic. His role as a game show host on The 1% Club further cemented his image as a capable and engaging presenter who can handle pressure without losing his sense of humor. [edit]

iFANN's Global Fame Engine evaluated Lee Mack in September 2026 but determined that he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list). While he is a household name within the United Kingdom, his fame is primarily regional rather than global, which explains the absence of a specific numerical rank in international databases.

Fans generally refer to themselves as "Lee Mack fans" or "Not Going Out viewers" rather than using a formal fandom name. The fanbase is highly active on social media, particularly Facebook groups dedicated to Not Going Out trivia and memes. Fans celebrate the show's anniversary dates and often share favorite clips on TikTok and YouTube. Mack is known to engage with fans on Twitter and occasionally attends fan meet-and-greets, though he maintains a balance between accessibility and privacy. The community often rallies around his announcements regarding the end of Not Going Out, expressing both sadness and support for his decision to move on while the show is still successful. [edit]

Lee Mack's character in Not Going Out has become a cultural icon in the UK, with the specific catchphrase "I'm not going out" widely quoted. Fans often reference the dynamic of his laziness versus his wife's pragmatism as a defining element of the show. On Would I Lie to You?, he is renowned for his ability to tell convincing lies; one legendary moment involved him lying about having a secret twin brother, a story so well-told that even the audience was fooled until the reveal. His 1995 Edinburgh Fringe win is considered the pivotal moment that launched his career, with the story of him using the prize money to fund his first national tour being a staple of his biography.

In 2026, the announcement that Not Going Out would end after 20 years sparked a massive wave of nostalgia and tribute from fans, with many citing it as the show that got them through difficult times. Mack also publicly called for the preservation of modern studio sitcoms in September 2026, citing the decline of multi-camera productions in favor of single-camera formats. Despite his fame, he maintains a relatively private personal life, rarely discussing his family in detail outside of occasional interviews and social media posts. [edit]

Lee Mack has been married to actress and comedian Amy Gledhill since 2006. Their relationship is a central part of his public narrative, as they met while working together on the Channel 4 sketch show The Sketch Show in 2001. They began dating shortly after and married in 2006. Amy plays the role of Sarah, Lee's on-screen wife, in Not Going Out, mirroring their real-life relationship. The couple has two children: a daughter named Lily, born in 2008, and a son named Jack, born in 2011.

The family is known for being relatively private but frequently appears together in interviews and on social media, often joking about their domestic life. Lee's father, Jim McKillop, was a publican who owned the Black Horse pub in Blackburn, where Lee spent much of his childhood. The environment of the pub exposed him early to performance and storytelling. Lee currently resides in London with his family and owns a holiday property in the Lake District. [edit]

Amy Gledhill, David Mitchell, Rob Brydon, Simon Nye, Harry Hill. [edit]

Lee Mack has been married to Amy Gledhill since 2006. Their relationship is a central part of his public narrative, as they met while working together on the Channel 4 sketch show The Sketch Show in 2001. They began dating shortly after, and despite initial rumors about the challenges of a couple working in comedy, they married in 2006. Amy plays the role of Sarah, Lee's on-screen wife, in Not Going Out, mirroring their real-life relationship. They have two children: a daughter named Lily (born 2008) and a son named Jack (born 2011).

Prior to Amy Gledhill, there are no widely documented or confirmed long-term public relationships. Mack has kept his early dating life out of the spotlight, focusing on his career development during the late 1990s and early 2000s. As of 2026, Lee Mack is currently married to Amy Gledhill. There are no reports of separation, divorce, or new romantic partners. The couple is known for being relatively private but frequently appears together in interviews and on social media, often joking about their domestic life. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Lee Mack's net worth at approximately $9 million. This figure reflects his earnings from over two decades of television work, including his salary as the creator, writer, and lead actor of Not Going Out. With over 150 episodes produced, he commands a significant per-episode fee, estimated at £100,000 to £150,000 in recent years. This forms the bulk of his wealth, supplemented by his role as host of The 1% Club, which adds an annual income likely ranging from £500,000 to £750,000 per series.

Mack also generates substantial revenue through his stand-up tours, which sell out large arenas across the UK and Ireland. His production company retains backend rights and profits from Not Going Out reruns and international sales, providing a steady stream of passive income. Additionally, he owns a family home in London and a holiday property in the Lake District, contributing to his overall asset base. As of 2026, his financial trajectory remains strong, driven by the enduring popularity of his sitcom and his continued presence on popular game shows. [edit]

Lee Mack has received numerous accolades throughout his career, primarily within the UK television industry. He has won multiple National Television Awards for Most Popular Comedy Programme for Not Going Out and Best Comedy Presenter for Would I Lie to You? and The 1% Club. He also won Best Comedy Performance at the BAFTA Cymru awards for his work on Not Going Out. Early in his career, he received the British Comedy Award for Best Newcomer following his 1995 Edinburgh Fringe victory. [edit]