What is the best and worst comedy advice Lee Mack received?

The best and worst advice Lee Mack was given was 'just be yourself.' While true, it's difficult for new comedians to be authentic when terrified. He suggests it takes 15-20 years of experience for one to truly be themselves on stage.

How has the comedy landscape changed over the last 30 years?

The quantity of comedians has exploded, with more opportunities to perform via social media. However, it's harder to make a living, with many comedians needing side jobs even after a decade in the industry, unlike in the past where a few years usually meant earning a living.

What is Lee Mack's advice for aspiring stand-up comedians?

Aspiring comedians should book at least four or five shows initially, expecting them to go poorly, as good first gigs are rare. He emphasizes the importance of just doing it, as simply performing puts you in the top 0.01% as most people are too scared to even try.

How does Lee Mack write jokes?

Lee Mack humorously suggests stealing jokes from his children. He also explains that joke writing depends on the style, but he enjoys observing his kids' natural wit, citing an example of his five-year-old's clever punchline.

Should comedy have a political or social function, or just be for laughs?

Lee Mack believes comedy should primarily aim to make people laugh without added agendas. While he acknowledges the trend of 'comedy plus' (drama, politics, tragedy), he prefers pure comedy as it's more universally accessible and less likely to alienate audiences by taking a stance.

What makes a tough gig, and how does Lee Mack handle it?

Tough gigs can be due to various factors like poor acoustics, audience disposition, or even technical issues with microphones. Lee Mack handles them by relying on his experience and the established dynamic with his co-stars, humorously referencing past challenging experiences and a desire to avoid exploding mic equipment.

Who influenced Lee Mack's comedy, and who does he enjoy working with?

Lee Mack was influenced by British comedy legends like Morecambe and Wise and Laurel and Hardy. He enjoys working with David Mitchell and Rob Brydon on 'Would I Lie to You?' due to their strong friendship, allowing for a positive and fun working atmosphere.

Key Moments

Comedian and Actor Lee Mack Interview at the Oxford Union

Oxford Union

News & Politics6 min read30 min video

Apr 28, 2026|2,441 views|83|27

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TL;DR

Lee Mack believes comedy takes 15-20 years to master as 'being yourself' is difficult when starting out, and current stand-up is oversaturated, making it harder to earn a living.

Key Insights

Lee Mack estimates it takes 15 to 20 years of performing for a comedian to truly 'be yourself' on stage, which is crucial for developing authentic humor.

While comedy opportunities have "exploded" through social media, it's now significantly harder to make a living as a stand-up comedian compared to 30 years ago, with many still working other jobs after 10 years.

Mack advises aspiring comedians to book at least four or five shows initially, as the chances of a good first gig are very low, and expecting a bad start can alleviate pressure.

He believes the most effective way to start a comedy career is simply 'to do it,' stating that anyone who performs their first stand-up gig is already in the top 0.01% because 99.99% haven't overcome the fear.

Mack prefers comedy that is 'comedy plus nothing else,' arguing that while comedy with drama or politics is popular, its primary function should be to make people laugh.

He considers Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise to be the two funniest British men of all time, alongside Laurel and Hardy, and identifies Rob Brydon and David Mitchell as friends he enjoys working with.

The long road to finding your comedic voice

Lee Mack discussed his early journey into comedy, stating that he still questions his own funniness. He recalled moving from Blackburn to Southport as a child, where he felt intimidated by his peers' healthier lifestyles and his own Lancastrian accent. To cope, he began doing impressions, mimicking Bobby Ball, a comedian whose accent he was told he shared. Standing on a school roof attempting to make classmates laugh, he realized that making people laugh was a way to ingratiate himself. He humorously noted that his initial attempts weren't met with laughter but concern about him jumping. Mack's core philosophy on comedic development centers on the advice 'just be yourself.' However, he pointed out that this is both brilliant and terrible advice. While it's true that authenticity is key, new comedians are often too terrified and self-conscious to genuinely 'be themselves.' Mack believes this process of shedding personas and insecurities takes a significant amount of time, estimating it takes 'about 15 to 20 years' for a comedian to fully arrive at their authentic comedic voice. This journey involves numerous 'dying on your ass' gigs, which eventually break down the facade to reveal the real person underneath, leading to genuine humor.

The evolution and saturation of the comedy scene

Reflecting on the past 30 years, Mack observed that while everything evolves, the biggest change in comedy has been the sheer quantity of people involved. He noted that the opportunities to perform comedy have "exploded" through various social media platforms and alternative avenues. However, this explosion has made it significantly harder to earn a living as a comedian. Mack contrasted his early career, where one would either quit stand-up or be earning a living within two or three years, with the current situation. He now meets comedians who have been performing for 10 years and still need to drive Ubers or similar jobs to supplement insufficient income. This saturation, he believes, means that while more people have the chance to perform, the economic viability for many has decreased considerably.

Advice for aspiring comedians: embrace the bad gigs

Mack's primary advice for aspiring comedians is to book multiple shows simultaneously. He stressed that the chances of a first gig going well are extremely low due to the unnatural situation of performing for strangers. Therefore, comedians should 'book in at least four or five' shows and commit to completing them, regardless of the outcome. This commitment helps to desensitize them to initial failures. Furthermore, he stated that by simply doing stand-up, one is already ahead of the vast majority. He estimated that anyone who performs their first gig is in the 'top 0.01%' of comedians because the other 99.99% are too scared or uninterested to even try. Mack himself waited '10 years' before having the "bottle" to perform, and when he finally did, he was so terrified that he got "pissed on Taboo" for three days beforehand, which ironically made the experience less daunting because he had already processed years of fear.

The function of comedy: laughter above all

Mack expressed a strong preference for comedy that focuses solely on making people laugh, defining it as 'comedy plus nothing else.' He acknowledged that comedy has increasingly incorporated other elements, such as drama or political commentary, particularly in sitcoms influenced by shows like 'The Office.' He also noted the trend of 'comedy plus tragedy,' referencing the phenomenon of 'the dead dad show' in Edinburgh. While he respects the validity of giving opinions on political or social issues, Mack believes that if a comedian's primary goal is to make people laugh, that in itself is a perfectly justifiable and valuable pursuit. He suggested that injecting strong opinions can sometimes make it harder to achieve the core goal of eliciting laughter.

The nuances of British humor and gig experiences

When asked if British humor exists, Mack affirmed its presence but argued that the quality of a gig is often more dependent on the venue's acoustics and atmosphere than the audience's nationality. He humorously recounted an incident in Singapore where he attempted to joke about an older British man with a much younger Singaporean girlfriend, which 'didn't go down very well at all.' The joke failed because the entire front row consisted of similar couples, and targeting one individual instead of the group dynamic led to an awkward 20 minutes. This experience reinforced his belief that the room and its specific dynamics are more influential than broad national humor traits.

Influences and on-screen camaraderie

Mack cited Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise as his two funniest British inspirations, alongside classic performers like Laurel and Hardy. Regarding his colleagues on 'Would I Lie to You?', he praised Rob Brydon and David Mitchell, emphasizing that their strong friendship contributes to the sitcom's longevity. He believes that when performers have other projects and aren't solely focused on one show, it prevents insecurities and rivalries from festering. Mack elaborated on his close relationship with Rob Brydon, mentioning that their families and even dogs are friends, which fosters a positive and non-aggressive atmosphere on set. This conducive environment allows for a wider range of guests, including those who might not fit an edgier comedic style.

Personal anecdotes and mistaken identity

Mack shared an anecdote about his educational background, humorously stating he left school with two O-levels (GCSEs) and didn't get into Oxford but received an unconditional offer from Cambridge. He then pivoted to a joke about Oxford Brookes, admitting he once 'died on my ass' at a gig there, implying a low bar for the institution. Later in the interview, a humorous mix-up occurred when a member of the audience revealed their cousin, Holly Stuart William, was in the same school year as Mack's daughter. The initial confusion over the surname, with Mack guessing it might be double-barreled, led to an amusing interaction that highlighted the serendipitous connections people can make.

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Common Questions

Lee Mack realized he was funny in his youth when he used impressions to connect with peers. He found that making people laugh was a way to be liked, which eventually led him to pursue comedy professionally, though it took many years to develop his own voice.