Lee Evans has announced that he will be retiring as a comedian at the end of his current tour.
The popular comedian dropped the bombshell during an interview on The Jonathan Ross Show, leaving the seasoned host flabbergasted.
“This is it. Finished… It’s the end,” he said, leaving Ross to clarify by asking “”I wouldn’t have asked if I knew that was the answer. You’re not going to tour anymore?”
“No,” said Lee. “I’m not doing anything. This is it. Yeah, finished.”
Evans went on to explain that he felt he had neglected wife of 30 years, Heather, and due to success of his career and wanted to spend more time with her.
“I started off cleaning toilets when I was a kid. And I’ve had loads of jobs and I just kept working and working and working and my dad always said to us ‘you’ve got to work’ so I’ve just continuously worked, done comedy, toured, but I’ve ignored, I think for far too long, my missus and I want to spend a lot more time with her,” he explained.
“This is it, 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’. I know what’ll happen, in a week [she’ll say] ‘get out, you’re getting on my nerves!’ But I’ve said to her, ‘look love, I’m really sorry that I’m always away.’ I’m a nightmare to live with because I’m always working… I’ve just got to go and see my wife. I love her very, very much.”
He also revealed his regret at missing out on milestone events with his daughter Mollie, who is now 20 years old.
“I want to be there. Every single week I’ve been doing plays and I’ve always said to Little Mo [Mollie] ‘I’m sorry Little Mo I can’t go to the school play because I’ve got to do this work’. Now I can go ‘Yeah let’s go and see Little Mo, let’s go and be with Hev [Heather] let’s go and do the stuff that we never did when we were kids.”
