Comic Lee Hurst tells Katherine MacAlister how he keeps the buzz of stand-up alive

"Lots of people think I’m dead,” Lee Hurst tells me proudly, “just because I’m not on TV any more.

“But I’ve been there and done that, and for me it’s about making sure you still have that buzz when you get up on stage.”

Owning his own comedy club in London means Lee can perform when he wants, although his wealth of new material means he’s back on the road with his latest tour Things That Make You Go AAARGGH!!!, which rolls into Chipping Norton next week, giving his fans the chance to air their grievances and discuss what winds them up.

And having already written the next show, which he says is “cracking,” the 52 year old shows no signs of slowing down: “I don’t need to be doing this. I’m in the privileged position of having made my money so I do it because I want to, because you have to enjoy it. If there’s no buzz you will just resent it. I see comics on stage with that glassy stare who really shouldn’t be doing it any more. There are so many great new acts out there and others that really need to call it a day.”

And yet in the midst of his heyday, Lee walked away. “In 2000, I did an 82-date tour, as well as weekly gigs at The Comedy Store and my club, so I stopped for a bit until I wanted to go back or it ceases to be fun.

“Pretty soon I was sneaking in to do the odd gig here and there, until the hunger came back. Six months was the longest I’ve had off.”

Considering he started in comedy aged 16 and is now 52, that gives you an idea of how much entertaining Lee has done, including trips to Afghanistan and Iraq to amuse the troops.

Back in the day on primetime TV, Lee took it all in his stride, never taking himself too seriously. “On Do They Think It’s All Over I would just turn up for two years, roll with it and then go home, I didn’t worry about it. I just played the game, even though more people watched it than X-Factor.”

And yet, while Lee describes himself as being “the laziest person in the world”, saying his talent for improv requires a remarkable lack of preparation, his work ethic says otherwise, his compulsion to entertain seeing him haring around the country just to make people laugh, and still touring annually.

“I know, I know, but I love the gag, laugh, gag, laugh, style of comedy. I need to get the pace up, to feel that hunger, so being famous doesn’t bother me as long as people still come to the shows and enjoy them. Because if I’ve had fun, they’ve had fun. I have to enjoy it too.”

With the next show written and ready to go, Lee’s already looking forward to next year. “It’s strange writing one show while performing another, although I love the improv side of Things That Make You Go AAARGGH!!! I never know what’s going to happen from one show to the next. But I know the new material works so I’m looking forward to going into blaster mode and just getting out there. It means I get the best of both worlds.”

Still recovering from a second heart operation, which meant he had to cancel several gigs at the end of last year, Lee is therefore remarkably laid back about his future. “Who knows what’s going to happen next? I just try to be the best comic I can be by always pushing myself. The rest I leave to fate ”

SEE IT
Lee Hurst, Things That Make You Go AAARGGH!!! is on Friday, January 23, at  Chipping Norton Theatre. Call 01608 642350 or see chippingnortontheatre.com

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