The Lee Mack joke that made John Cleese cry on TV | | UK News

Comedian Lee Mack once left John Cleese and Martin Clunes in tears of laughter during an look on The Graham Norton Show. Back in 2010, the Would I Lie To You captain joined the star-studded line-up on the acquainted purple sofa where he was quizzed by the beloved Irish presenter. During his relaxed interview, the host requested him about his first time attempting out stand-up comedy at the start of his profession.

As he mirrored on the early days of his comedy profession, he recalled one mortifying second where he shared his spontaneous stand-up gig at Pontins as a Bluecoat in Great Yarmouth. As the award-winning actors listened, the dad-of-three admitted that he had indulged in a little an excessive amount of booze before getting on stage and utterly forgot the start of his warm-up act.

He started: “It’s actually an incident from my first attempt at stand-up comedy, and what happened was that I’d always wanted to do stand-up comedy. I didn’t have the guts to do it, so I got very drunk, and I had a go at doing it at Pontins as a Bluecoat.

My mate said to me, ‘Just copy all the other comedians and steal their jokes and basically talk to the front row’.” It was at this level that he was coached on how to set up the gig, by asking members of the viewers where they’ve travelled from to make some simple gags.

The 57-year-old comedian chuckled: “So, you’re supposed to say, ‘Where are you from?’ and they say ‘Scotland’, you say, ‘Who paid for your holiday?’, and if they’re from Wales you make a noise like a sheep. Very rubbish jokes.

“My mate said, ‘Don’t fear, you are just padding. You’re wanting for comedy gold, like when they are saying they’re from Kent, you say, ‘What did you call me?’ At Pontins, this used to take the roof off, so I attempted it, but I used to be very drunk.

“So I go on stage, but I can’t remember the joke. So I shout out, ‘Anyone from Kent?’ and he says ‘Me’ and I said, ‘Well, you’re a c**t’.” His celeb co-stars roared with laughter as the Fawlty Towers star wiped tears from his eyes.

It comes after the TV star admitted that he handed up on one sensible alternative early on in his profession. Speaking to the Oxford Union back in March, the star told the viewers that he once turned down a position in Red Dwarf.

He told the gang: “There was one show I regret not doing that I was offered. Red Dwarf was on TV when I wasn’t even a comedian, it’s been on forever… It’s a great show, I used to love watching it.” The Not Going Out creator admitted that he turned down the position because of his rules about alcohol promoting after going teetotal a decade in the past.