Neck-down comedy was no longer valid after the 1980s alternative comedy revolution. Everything became about the cerebral. And with that came positive things - it helped get rid of some of the sexism and homophobia - but it also meant a lot of physical comedy was lost.

Comics were always the lowest rung on the ladder, front of cloth at the Royal Variety Performance. What that means is you're only there so Take That can set up behind the curtains.

I used to tell people I was a comic and they'd be fascinated. Now all you get is: ‘Oh yeah, my cousin Steve's a comic.'

Lee Mack Quotes