• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

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

Home> Entertainment> Celebrity

Published 14:24 10 Dec 2024 GMT

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

Lee Evans announced his showbiz exit in a bombshell interview

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

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.

Advert

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

Advert

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

Advert

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.

Advert

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!

Featured Image Credit: ITV Dave Benett/Getty Images

Topics: Celebrity, Jonathan Ross, Celebrity News, UK News

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
5 hours ago
22 hours ago
  • Aeon/GC Images
    an hour ago

    Justin Bieber reveals 'rules' of married life with wife Hailey

    The star couple have their list of family values hung up on a wall

    Entertainment
  •  Instagram/Thomas Skinner
    2 hours ago

    Thomas Skinner issues scathing statement after admitting to cheating on his wife just weeks after their wedding

    Skinner says he has an 'extremely chequered past'

    Entertainment
  • Kevin Winter/Getty Images
    5 hours ago

    Meaning behind duck gift Jake Gyllenhaal gave to Owen Cooper as he became youngest male Emmy winner

    Owen Cooper had admitted to just wanting to 'chew Gyllenhaal's ear off'

    Entertainment
  • John Keeble/Getty Images
    22 hours ago

    Jeremy Clarkson says he wants to ban 'annoying' group of customers from his pub

    Clarkson's The Farmer's Dog might end up with fewer 'faddy' punters

    Entertainment
  • Shock moment Lee Evans announced his retirement before completely disappearing from showbiz
  • ‘Britain’s biggest man cave’ has now been demolished after 10-year legal battle
  • Lee Evans seen in public for first time in years since retiring from comedy
  • Search for MH370 restarts after 10 years with £55 million reward for finding wreckage