As is the case with many people, booze was once a big part of Lee Mack's life.
The 1% Club host has previously admitted that he used alcohol as a confidence booster during his early years as a Pontins Blue Coat trying out stand-up for the very first time. Reminiscing on this formative time during a 2020 episode of The Graham Norton Show, Lee remembered: "I got very drunk, I had a go at doing it as Blue Coat. My mate said to me to just copy all the other comedians at Pontins and steal their jokes and basically talk to the front row."
Explaining how one joke in particular would always 'take the roof' off, Lee said: "You're supposed to say: 'Where are you from?' They say: 'Scotland' You say: 'Who paid for your holiday?' They say Wales and you make a noise like a sheep; rubbish jokes right? But I said: 'That's terrible' He told me: 'Don't worry; that's just padding'. What you are doing is looking for the comedy gold which is: 'Where you from?' They say: 'Kent' and you say: 'What did you call me?'"
After a few pints, however, the now 55-year-old started forgetting his punchlines, which didn't go down well with the audience at all. Lee continued: "I tried it, but I was very drunk. So I go on stage; and I say: 'Where are you from?' This bloke says Scotland, I can't remember the joke, and say hello. I ask another person: 'Where are you from?' the guy says: 'Wales' and I blackout and say: 'Hi'. I panic and then I say: 'Anyone in from Kent', this bloke shouts out: 'me'. And I said: 'Well you're a c***'."
Unfortunately, Lee's unintentionally rude antics resulted in him being 'sacked' from the resort in Hemsby, Norfolk, and being sent to work at Morecambe Pontins instead 'as a sort of punishment'. Lee ultimately went on to reconsider his relationship with drink and in 2017 he decided to cut out the alcohol altogether, with one life-changing book proving to be a wake-up call...
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Booze previously cost Lee his job as a Blue Coat (PA)
An eye-opening book prompted Lee to reconsider his relationship with drinking (Getty Images)In a 2021 episode of the I Can't Believe It's Not Buddha podcast with Neil Webster, which focuses on all things mindfulness and spirituality, Lee revealed that he was inspired by a self-help book by author Allen Carr. Lee shared: "Probably the number one reason I gave up drinking was a book recommendation. I read a book that changed my whole attitude towards alcohol. It was by Allen Carr. Not that Alan Carr. Allen Carr's quit smoking book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.
"It sounds a bit like some sort of pyramid scheme type, but it's incredible. I mean, it really is the world's most successful way of stopping smoking. And then he brought out another one called controlling alcohol."
He went on to clarify: "Now, I wasn't waking up in a skip. I wasn't that kind of drinker. I was just reading this book out of interest. I've had a long relationship with booze because I grew up in a pub, and I have got a history of my family being very heavy drinkers."
After getting through the majority of the book, Lee realised the author was encouraging readers to kick booze altogether - and he took the advice on board. Lee said: "The general rule is that people think that you are trying to control your urge to drink and that you're saying, 'okay, I'd like to have a drink, but I won't because it's better for my health'.
"In other words, you're giving something up. This [book] changes that completely. It's just you just don't want one anymore. That's the difference."
Theorising upon the real reason why people associate alcohol with pleasure, Lee reflected: "You sit with a pint of lager. Friday night, end of the working week, whatever. You take a sip of beer, either in the sun outside, you take one big swig and go 'Ah. That's better'.
"We all know that feeling and yet it doesn't get in the bloodstream for at least half an hour. So the question is, what is giving you that feeling of 'ah that's better?' Because it can't be the alcohol. There must be something else that's going on and it's the association."
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