Lee Mack is appearing on The One Show tonight, with the comedian arriving on BBC One fresh from a very unusual one-off live performance in London.
The Not Going Out star hosted Lee Mack: One Night at Circle & Star at Hampstead’s Circle & Star Theatre last night, performing to an audience of just 55 people at the intimate venue.
The one-off charity benefit was a very different proposition to the huge audiences Mack normally plays to — and there are currently no further live appearances confirmed.
Mack is also having a particularly busy period on television, with a new episode of Not Going Out airing tonight and the comedian confirmed to appear in the upcoming Last One Laughing UK Halloween special on Prime Video.
Here’s everything you need to know about Lee Mack’s appearance on The One Show tonight, his latest Not Going Out episode, his live show, The 1% Club and what’s coming next.
Why is Lee Mack on The One Show tonight?
Lee Mack is appearing on The One Show tonight, October 8, as he continues an exceptionally busy period across television and live comedy.
His appearance comes just one day after his special charity performance at Circle & Star Theatre in Hampstead.
The event, titled Lee Mack: One Night at Circle & Star, took place on Wednesday, October 7, and was billed as a one-night-only benefit performance.
It was a particularly intimate gig for one of Britain’s biggest comedians.
Lee Mack performed to just 55 people
The Circle & Star Theatre has only 55 seats, meaning Mack’s audience last night was a fraction of the crowds he normally performs in front of.
The theatre describes itself as a 55-seat venue in the heart of Hampstead, with every seat designed to be close to the stage.
The event was explicitly billed as a one-off evening, with proceeds going to Circle & Star Theatre. The venue’s listing confirms it was sold out and took place on October 7.
That means fans hoping to see Lee Mack live should not assume that the Hampstead show marks the beginning of a new tour.
No future live appearances have currently been confirmed.
For now, the 55-person Circle & Star performance was a special one-off.
What is Lee Mack doing on The One Show?
Mack is expected to discuss his career and his current projects during his appearance on The One Show.
And there is certainly plenty for him to talk about.
The comedian is currently fronting The 1% Club, continues to star in and write Not Going Out, has a major Prime Video comedy appearance coming up and is fresh from last night’s unusual Hampstead performance.
His Not Going Out sitcom is also back on BBC One tonight.
What time is Not Going Out on tonight?
The latest episode of Not Going Out airs tonight at 9.30pm on BBC One.
The episode is the third instalment of series 15 and is titled Superfan.
It follows directly after Taskmaster and comes later in the evening after The Celebrity Traitors.
What happens in Not Going Out tonight?
In tonight’s episode, Lee receives a birthday message from one of his comedy heroes, Nigel Planer, through Cameo.
The catch is that Lee does not realise Lucy has paid for the message.
When Lee subsequently spots Nigel in a packed restaurant, he rushes over to introduce himself because he assumes the two are now best friends.
Unfortunately for Lee, Nigel does not share that understanding.
The episode is called Superfan and stars Lee Mack, Sally Bretton and Nigel Planer.
The episode is also available through BBC iPlayer.
Why is Nigel Planer in Not Going Out?
Nigel Planer is best known for playing Neil in The Young Ones, making him exactly the kind of comedy figure Lee’s character might idolise.
His appearance gives Not Going Out a particularly fun guest-star storyline, with Lee’s character becoming convinced that a Cameo birthday message means he and Nigel have formed a genuine friendship.
The joke, naturally, is that Nigel has absolutely no idea that this friendship exists.
Not Going Out is celebrating 20 years
The appearance comes during a landmark year for Not Going Out.
The sitcom first arrived on BBC screens in 2006, introducing audiences to Lee, a lazy and immature slacker drifting between jobs and relying heavily on the goodwill of his Californian landlady.
The arrival of his best friend’s sister Lucy, played by Sally Bretton, changed everything.
What began as a will-they-won’t-they relationship eventually led to Lee and Lucy getting married and starting a family.
The show later jumped forward eight years to explore their life with three children, before the most recent storyline moved the couple forward again as they entered a new stage of family life.
The sitcom has now reached 106 episodes, with its 15th series continuing this year.
It is currently the UK’s longest-running British sitcom by number of episodes, according to the Circle & Star event listing.
A special documentary, 20 Years of Going Out, is also available on BBC iPlayer.
Who stars in Not Going Out?
Lee Mack stars as Lee, while Sally Bretton plays Lucy.
Over its long run, the sitcom has also featured a formidable list of comedy and acting talent, including:
- Bobby Ball
- Abigail Cruttenden
- Hugh Dennis
- Megan Dodds
- Deborah Grant
- Miranda Hart
- Tim Vine
- Timothy West
- Geoffrey Whitehead
- Katy Wix
The show has become one of the UK’s most enduring sitcoms thanks to its rapid-fire jokes, recurring characters and increasingly ambitious storylines.
Lee Mack is joining Last One Laughing UK
There’s another major Lee Mack project for fans to look forward to.
He is confirmed to appear in the Last One Laughing UK Halloween special on Prime Video.
The comedy format puts comedians together with one simple objective: make their opponents laugh while keeping a straight face themselves.
Mack will be joined by a particularly strong comedy line-up, including Katherine Ryan, Harry Hill and Richard Ayoade.
The UK version is hosted by Jimmy Carr, with the format challenging comedians to try to make each other laugh without cracking themselves. Prime Video’s existing Last One Laughing UK series features Richard Ayoade among its cast.
The Halloween special should therefore provide another opportunity for Mack’s famously quick wit to go head-to-head with some of Britain’s best-known comedians.
What is Lee Mack doing on The 1% Club?
Mack is also continuing as host of ITV’s hugely successful quiz show The 1% Club.
The show has now been given a major three-year extension by ITV, guaranteeing more series and specials.
ITV says the programme regularly attracts more than 5 million viewers per episode, has been streamed more than 60 million times and has reached more than 43 million viewers since launching.
The broadcaster has confirmed that The 1% Club Rollover will return later this year, followed by further specials and series.
A brand new series is set to arrive on ITV1 in early 2027.
Mack joked about the three-year renewal, saying:
“I’m delighted that ITV have given us three more series to discover Great British clever clogs. I just told my family how old I would be when these three series are over, but apparently I got it wrong. Which shows you how well I’d do as a contestant.”
ITV’s new deal guarantees the show will continue for at least another three years.
When will new 1% Club episodes be on?
Fans won’t have to wait too long for more 1% Club.
The 1% Club Rollover will return before Christmas, followed by a holiday special over Christmas.
A brand new series is then expected on ITV1 in early 2027.
The new three-year ITV deal means viewers can expect further series and specials through at least 2029.
Is Lee Mack going on tour?
At present, there are no future live appearances confirmed following his one-night performance at Circle & Star.
That show was specifically billed as a one-off benefit evening rather than the launch of a tour. The event was sold out, with just 55 seats available.
That makes it particularly unlikely that fans should interpret last night’s performance as confirmation of a new tour.
For now, television is where fans can expect to see plenty of Mack.
Where can you watch Lee Mack?
There are several places to catch Lee Mack on screen over the coming months.
Tonight: Lee Mack appears on The One Show.
Tonight at 9.30pm: Not Going Out continues on BBC One, with Nigel Planer appearing as Lee’s comedy hero.
BBC iPlayer: Not Going Out and the 20 Years of Going Out documentary are available through BBC iPlayer.
Prime Video: Mack will appear in the upcoming Last One Laughing UK Halloween special.
ITV/ITVX: Mack continues as host of The 1% Club, with the Rollover and Christmas special coming up before a new series in 2027.
So while last night’s tiny Hampstead performance was a rare chance to see Lee Mack in a room of just 55 people, there is certainly no shortage of opportunities to see him on screen.
And with The One Show, Not Going Out, The 1% Club and Last One Laughing UK all putting Mack in front of audiences, the comedian remains one of Britain’s busiest television comedy stars.
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