It's been 10 years since Lee Evans completely disappeared from showbiz after shock announcement

If you're a Comedy Central viewer who leaves Friends on all day and forgets to turn it off late at night, you'll often find a rerun of one of Lee Evans' stand up specials.

The retired comedian from Bristol had a unique way of telling jokes while sweating absolute buckets simultaneously.

But he completely shocked the world when he decided to step back from the limelight at the peak of his powers.

Why did Lee Evans retire?

Aged just 50, he disappeared from showbiz after making a bombshell announcement on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2014.

Everyone thought the There's Something About Mary actor was doing a bit - but things got serious very quickly.

"This is it. Finished. It's the end," Evans admitted.

"Yep. Not doing anything.

"This is it. My manager [Addison Cresswell] died last year.

"I suppose really, I started off cleaning toilets when I was a kid, I've had loads of jobs, I've been working, working, working.

Lee Evans announced his showbiz exit in a bombshell interview (ITV)

"My dad always said to us, 'you've got to work'. But, I've ignored for far too long, my missus.

"And I want to spend more time with her.

"I ain't doing nothing. I'm going to go and see my wife, I'm going to give her a big hug and say, 'I am yours'."

He added: "I've come to a junction in my life where - please forgive me if it sounds very narcissistic - I've done musicals and plays and films and stand-up and you sort of get to a point where you go, 'I don't know what else to do next'."

That was 10 years ago, and we haven't really seen much of him since then.

What is Lee Evans doing now?

Lee Evans has been retired for 10 years (Fred Duval/FilmMagic)

In 2023 he was papped alongside his wife, Heather Nudds, as the pair took a stroll around London's Covent Garden on their way to dinner.

Evans waved and smiled at reporters who were snapping up a rare moment.

Prior to that, he was last seen in public in 2021 enjoying a solo bike ride through Essex, where he lives.

The stand-up comedian met his future wife when they were both teenagers, and decided to tie the knot at 22. They got married on 22 September 1984 and welcomed daughter Mollie in 1993.

His last red carpet appearance was in 2017, when he turned up to the premiere of Kenny in Liverpool. He was there to honour the legendary footballer ahead of his new documentary.

According to The Richest, Evans is worth $8 million (£5.6 million) with the majority of that being earned from his arena tours, rather than his film appearances.

Happy retirement, Lee!