Lee Hurst

Lee Hurst (born 16 October 1962) is an English comedian.

Hurst was a regular panellist on the comedy sports quiz They Think It's All Over from 1995 to 1997.

Hurst took up comedy after being employed in a number of jobs after leaving school, including working for a building society, the Department of Health and Social Security, and as a telephone engineer for BT.

He made his first appearance on stage at the Donmar Warehouse and later said that, at the time, "I only had four jokes and they were really crap but I told the first one and got a huge laugh. I couldn't believe it. I thought, 'This is all right'".

He appeared alongside David Gower in 42 episodes over the first six series, from the first episode on 14 September 1995 until 1997.

He reduced his TV appearances to allow more time for running his comedy club, Lee Hurst's Backyard Comedy Club.

Hurst was the creator of Bring Me the Head of Light Entertainment, which ran for five series on Five between 1997 and 2000.

Hurst has a severe form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, a condition which causes acute back and joint pain.

Hurst lives in Sittingbourne, Kent.

Hurst refuses to be interviewed by newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch, was a critic of the Blair government, and in one interview, stated that he stopped attending a back support group which helped him with his ankylosing spondylitis after he found out that it was run as a charity, explaining that "I believe it should be provided by the State through taxation. I'd be very hypocritical if I used their facilities when I won't do medical charity benefits".

In 2003, he considered standing as a candidate in the 2004 London mayoral election.

One of the factors behind his decision was a proposed redevelopment, which would have seen his comedy club demolished.

In March 2021, Hurst tweeted a sexual joke about climate activist Greta Thunberg, saying, "As soon as Greta discovers cock, she'll stop complaining about the single use plastic it's wrapped in".

Thunberg was 18 years old at the time, and Hurst was 58.

The tweet gained widespread criticism with fellow comedian David Baddiel among those criticising the joke.

Hurst responded by describing his critics as "the usual suspects".

The tweet was reported, leading to Hurst getting suspended from Twitter, which he stated he had appealed.

Twitter later reversed Hurst's suspension.

He was again suspended from Twitter in June 2021 for inciting violence; in the week that a video of Chris Whitty being manhandled went viral, he tweeted that "whatever happened to [him] is not enough".

Hurst opposes COVID vaccinations, lockdowns and mask wearing.

He returned for two appearances as a guest on They Think It's All Over towards the end of its run for series 17 in 2004, and for the 2011 Comic Relief 24 Hour Panel People.

Hurst's other TV credits include presenting Shark Tank, Salvage Squad and The Warehouse, and guest appearances on That's Showbusiness, The Stand Up Show and Have I Got News for You.

He has also appeared as a regular panellist on Don't Give Up Your Day Job.

He also fronted ITV's short-lived revival of the entertainment show Saturday Live.

In February 2009 Hurst pleaded guilty to criminal damage after smashing an audience member's mobile phone at a comedy show in Guildford in September 2008.

Hurst said that he did it out of anger, claiming that his shows regularly appear on websites such as YouTube.

Hurst got a break when he became the warm-up act for Have I Got News for You and producer Harry Thompson gave him the opportunity to appear on the show as a guest.

Hurst first became known to television viewers as a regular team member on the BBC Two comedy sports quiz They Think It's All Over.

Hurst was one of the show’s original panellists despite openly admitting to knowing nothing about football or comedy.