Iain Lee
Lee hosting The Rabbit Hole Show in 2017
Born
Iain Lee Rougvie

(1973-06-09) 9 June 1973
Slough, Buckinghamshire, England
Occupation(s)Broadcaster, writer, comedian
Children2
Websiteiainlee.com

Iain Lee (born Iain Lee Rougvie; 9 June 1973) is an English former broadcaster, writer, and television presenter and stand-up comedian who hosts the phone-in talk show The Late Night Alternative on "pay to view" Patreon.

Lee's career began in the 1990s as a stand-up comedian before he gained nationwide fame as co-host of The 11 O'Clock Show from 1998 to 2000 and the breakfast show RI:SE in 2003. He then embarked on a full-time radio career in 2005, hosting mainly talk-based shows on LBC 97.3, Absolute Radio, BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Radio WM, and talkRADIO, which earned him numerous radio awards. In July 2020, after his contract at talkRADIO was not renewed, Lee launched his Twitch show.[1][2]

Early life

Iain Lee Rougvie was born on 9 June 1973 in Slough, then a part of Buckinghamshire.[3] He has Scottish roots.[4] Lee's father worked at the props department at the BBC and his mother was a secretary until she developed multiple sclerosis which put her into an early retirement. The couple divorced when Lee was a youngster.[4]

Lee was raised on a council estate and recalled being bullied by fellow pupils because they considered him posh.[5] By the late 1990s, Lee had dropped the "Rougvie" from his name. He officially changed his name to Iain Lee by deed poll in 2008, due to his troubled relationship with his father.[6] Lee is the nephew of Scottish former footballer Doug Rougvie. He attended Herschel Grammar School in Slough and studied performing arts at Middlesex University.[5]

Career

Comedy

Lee began a stand-up comedy career in the 1990s, initially performing on the London circuit exclusively before touring nationwide. Lee considers his time as a stand-up to be a low point in his life, due to the fact that he started abusing drugs and alcohol during this time. He met Mackenzie Crook, who was also a stand-up comic at the time and the two became friends.[7]

Radio

Lee began his radio career in December 1997, presenting a four-hour show on Horizon 103.3, an independent station in Milton Keynes, on Christmas Day. At that point, he was 24 years old with only fifteen minutes experience in a studio and did not take any compliance or Ofcom regulation exam prior.[6] Lee went on to feature on the station's breakfast show The Morning Crew hosted by Trevor Marshall and Helen Legh, as Iain in Black Thunder and Iain McCartney.[6] From 1999 to 2001, Lee hosted a show on Xfm London.

Lee embarked on a full-time radio career in January 2005, starting with a stint on talk station LBC 97.3. He joined the station hosting weekend evenings before moving to afternoon drive, which he named The 3 Hour 4 'Till 7 Iain Lee Afternoon Wireless Show and later The 3-and-a-Half Hour 3 'Till 6.30 Iain Lee Afternoon Wireless Show. Lee was known for hosting a segment named Triple M (also known as Mental Mayhem or Mick's Mental Mayhem), where calls went straight to air without being pre-screened, which Nick Abbot, Tommy Boyd, and Clive Bull had also done. The segment received its own dedicated slot on Sunday nights in 2007. At the time, management favoured the unique format as they hoped that it would introduce exclusive listeners to the radio station. Lee then hosted the 7–10pm weekday slot which was named Iain Lee's Good Evening. In 2007, Global Radio purchased LBC which led to a change in management, who introduced a talk format of topical and news-driven conversation. Lee's presenting style fell out of favour and he left the station without prior announcement in November 2007.[8]

In January 2008, Lee began to host The Sunday Night Show on Virgin Radio, later Absolute Radio, from 10pm to 1am that featured music and talk.[9] In April 2009, Lee wrestled a listener which was broadcast the following month.[10] From 12 October 2009, Lee took over the Monday to Thursday evening slot. In October 2011, the station announced that Lee's contract would be terminated with immediate effect by mutual agreement. His departure occurred during a court case in which a listener was accused of harassing Lee, his wife, and the show's producer.[11]

Lee in 2015

From 2012 to 2015, Lee presented the weekday breakfast show on BBC Three Counties Radio, a local service that served Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. He later said that he accepted the job as he was unable to find work elsewhere, and felt "crushed" and a little humiliated about taking it at first.[12] From December 2013, Lee also presented a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio WM, the BBC's West Midlands service, which was followed by a Friday afternoon slot on the station from September 2014. He left the station in the following August, citing that management considered Lee hosting both slots as "odd" and wanted him to just present on Saturdays, which he rejected.[13] In May 2014, Lee's Three Counties show won a Radio Academy Award for Breakfast Show of the Year (Under 10 Million).[14] On 12 August 2014, Lee was accused of making a racist remark to his producer following a spoof on-air argument, in which Lee said; "Go on, go and do the black and Asian show. Bye bye."[15] The argument was described as banter and the BBC apologised for the comments.[15] In November 2015, Lee was fired from Three Counties. His departure followed complaints received about his interview with a lawyer from Christian Concern earlier in the month, in which Lee accused her of being "bigoted" and "homophobic" after she defended a minister quoting verses from the Bible condemning homosexuality as sinful.[16]

In February 2016, Lee announced that he had joined the first line-up of presenters for the launch of a new talk radio station, talkRADIO. The station began to air on 21 March 2016, with Lee hosting The Late Night Alternative from 10pm to 1 am on weekdays. [1][12] In 2017, he won a Gold Award at the Audio and Radio Industry Awards in the Best Speech Presenter – Non-Breakfast category.[17] He won a second in 2020, this time for Moment of the Year for directing emergency services to a caller who had taken an overdose.[18][19] Despite the success, Lee announced on 2 June 2020 that his contract was not renewed.[20]

On 10 July 2020, Lee announced that he had been signed by Twitch to continue hosting The Late Night Alternative on its streaming platform. The first launched on 20 July and is recorded from Lee's home in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.[2][21] The show allows video calls from viewers worldwide.[12]

In June 2022, Lee was announced as the new presenter of Jack FM's breakfast show, Iain Lee’s Rude Awakening, from 4 July.[22][23] On 6 February 2023, Lee announced his retirement from radio in order to focus more on his work as a counsellor.[24][25]

Iain presented his final radio show on 8 February 2023, on Jack FM, in a show which featured previous regular callers and Producers from across his career.

Television

From 1998 to 2000, Lee was a correspondent and co-host of the satirical comedy show The 11 O'Clock Show on Channel 4. The show became a start-up for comedians Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais. In one incident, Lee received death threats and had a stalker after he joked about Danniella Westbrook and her drug use. The police advised him to move out of his flat; he lived with Mackenzie Crook and in a hotel before the matter was resolved.[4] In January 2000, Lee and Donovan were criticised by Ofcom for making "death jokes" on the recently murdered Jill Dando.[26] After four series, Lee walked out five days before filming of the fifth was due to start. He later said that it was an unfair move, but felt the quality of the show's humour had declined and Channel 4 had cut its budget. Lee said he would have earned £90,000 if he had stayed.[4]

In 2002, Lee accepted to co-host a relaunch of the Channel 4 live breakfast show RI:SE with reality television star Kate Lawler, from January 2003. The show failed to make an impact in viewing figures, however, and it ended in December 2003.[7] By this time, Lee described himself as a "full blown cocaine addict" and would often smoke cannabis before filming RI:SE and take cocaine afterwards.[7] Lee described the year 2004 as "absolutely terrible" in regard to his career and started to binge drink to cope with the stress,[4] and spending around £2,000 on cocaine each week.[7] Lee went on to present the video game show Thumb Bandits on Channel 4. Later he made regular appearances on Sky News and This Morning, and hosted the Big Brother companion series Bit on the Psych for Channel 5.

In November 2017, Lee took part in the seventeenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. Lee entered the show on Day 5. During the show, Lee was elected Prime Minister of 10 Downing Creek. Lee made it to the final and finished in third place. He spoke openly about mental health whilst participating in the show.[27]

From the start of 2018, Lee was on the breakfast TV show Good Morning Britain, filling in for Richard Arnold who was taking a 3-week break.[28][29]

Other work

Lee currently writes a column in the Retro Gamer magazine.[30] He formerly wrote a gaming column for MSN.co.uk, as well as recording monthly podcasts.[31] He has also appeared on XLeague.tv discussing video games.[32]

Lee has appeared on BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends, and presented the official Big Brother radio show with co-host Gemma Cairney, entitled Big Brother's Big Ears. Lee has also been heard as a continuity announcer on the TV channel Dave.[33]

In August 2007, Lee launched a podcast entitled Iain Lee Presents... Shindiggery. It ended in November 2008.[34]

In 2009, Lee took part in an experimental comedy performance by artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard in Sheffield called Performer. Audience. Fuck Off,[35] a spin-off to the Performer/Audience/Mirror originally conceived in 1975 by American artist Dan Graham, whereby the performer does their act behind a mirror reflecting the audience.

In February 2012, Lee launched The Iain Lee Pocket Radio Show, a podcast similar in style to his radio shows but utilised various social media platforms for content. Most of it featured conversations with listeners via phone calls or Skype chats. Listeners were also invited to interact with the show by sending AudioBoos to be included in the recording. The podcast also included Lee interviewing guests and celebrity news with Elisa Roche.

Lee had a cameo role in a music video for the British IBM's self-titled single, released in 2012.[36]

In 2015, Lee and Glenn Gretlund had formed 7a Records, an independent record label specialising in obscure recordings by The Monkees and the group's members.[37][38] In 2020, Lee sold his share of the company.[39]

The Late Night Alternative

Lee and Boyle

The Late Night Alternative (TLNA) is an online phone-in show Lee and Katherine Boyle hosted on streaming platform Twitch. The programme was first broadcast on British radio station Talkradio between March 2016 and June 2020, and won several Audio and Radio Industry Awards, including 'Best Speech Presenter – Non-Breakfast' for Lee. In July 2020, Lee and Boyle announced the programme's return via Twitch, with the first episode airing on 20 July.[2]

In May 2017, Lee and Boyle created a record for a phone-in British radio show when the pair took over 150 calls in one three hour show, after announcing anyone could call and would be put through straight to air. The attempt to take a world record 200 calls failed when the phone system broke down due to the number of callers attempting to get through.[40]

On 19 December 2018, a man called the show after taking an drug overdose. Lee kept the man on the line whilst Boyle directed the emergency services to his location, with many on social media praising Lee's decisive actions.[41] Lee revealed on 24 December 2018 that the man had survived and was now back home after receiving specialist treatment for two days.[42] Lee and Boyle were later awarded a Gold in the 'Moment of the Year' category at the 2020 Audio and Radio Industry Awards for this call.[43]

On 2 June 2020, Lee announced his contract at Talkradio would not be renewed, having presented his final programme the previous evening.[44] On 10 July, the pair issued a press release confirming they had been signed by internet streaming service Twitch and would re-launch the programme on 20 July.[2]

Personal life

In March 2018, Lee announced that he and his wife, broadcaster Helena Wilkinson, were getting divorced. The couple have two sons.[45] At the time of the announcement, Lee confessed he had relapsed in drug use after being sober for 13 years,[46] in a three-month period following his stint on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, to which he credited Katherine Boyle in taking him to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.[12] In September 2020, Lee said he had broken a two-and-a-half year period of sobriety when he relapsed on cocaine.[47]

In July 2019, Lee came out as bisexual on his radio show, something that he had felt embarrassed about and tried to handle it with drugs and extramarital affairs. He credited sessions with a therapist to deal with his depression, which began when he started having sex with older men at fourteen. He realised that "Now I can see that it was abuse."[45]

In September 2020, Lee started a college course to become a counsellor.[21]

Credits

Year Title Role Notes
1994 The Danny Baker Show Drummer 1 episode
1998–2000 The 11 O'Clock Show Presenter 111 episodes
1998, 2000 They Think It's All Over Panellist 2 episodes
1999, 2000 The Channel 4 Political Awards Reporter 2 episodes
1999 Faking It Narrator
1999 Comedy Café Guest 2 episodes
1999, 2000 Comedy Lab Presenter 2 episodes
2000 Thumb Candy: The History of Computer Games Presenter
2001 E For Edge Narrator
2001 Edinburgh Comedy Awards Presenter
2001 I Love the '80s Guest 7 episodes
2001 Liquid News Presenter 20 episodes
2001 Mental! Presenter 16 episodes
2001–2002 Thumb Bandits Presenter 13 episodes
2002 My Worst Week Presenter 5 episodes
2002, 2008, 2018 The Wright Stuff Guest 4 episodes
2002–2003 RI:SE Presenter 205 episodes
2003–2004 Flipside TV Presenter
2003 Stupid Punts Panellist 1 episode
2003–2009 Big Brother's Little Brother Guest 29 episodes
2003 Q Awards Presenter
2004 Top Buzzer Booze Delivery Guy 1 episode
2004 Game Stars Presenter
2004 The Simpsons Quiz Show Contestant
2004 The Weakest Link Contestant 1 episode
2005 Monkey Trousers Various characters 1 episode
2005 FAQ U Panellist 2 episodes
2005 8 Out of 10 Cats Panellist 2 episodes
2005 Banned in the UK Guest 4 episodes
2005 Citizen TV Guest 1 episode
2005 How to Start Your Own Country Guest 1 episode
2005–2006 Celebrity Soup Presenter 33 episodes
2006 Morning Glory Newspaper Reviewer 1 episode
2006 Law of the Playground Guest 7 episodes
2006 TV Now and Then Panellist 1 episode
2006 Popcorn Guest 1 episode
2006 The Race Interviewer 7 episodes
2006 Frank Sidebottom's Proper Telly Show Guest 1 episode
2006 Celebrity Mastermind Contestant 1 episode
2007 How Do They Do It? Narrator 20 episodes
2007 The Beckhams Go To Hollywood Presenter
2007 Wills and Harry Go To Vegas Presenter
2007 Tittybangbang Various characters 6 episodes
2008 The Comedy Map of Britain Guest 1 episode
2008 Ready, Steady, Cook Contestant 1 episode
2008–2009, 2018 The One Show Reporter 10 episodes
2009 Celebrity Juice Panellist 1 episode
2009 Big Brother Guest 1 episode
2009, 2010, 2014 The Alan Titchmarsh Show Guest 3 episodes
2009 The All Star Impressions Show Various Characters
2010 The Persuasionists Billy Hitchens 6 episodes
2010 The Real Hustle Guest 1 episode
2010 Come Dine with Me Contestant 1 episode
2010–2012 This Morning Newspaper Reviewer 42 episodes
2010 100 Greatest Toys Guest
2011, 2012 Let's Sing and Dance Performer/Judge 2 episodes
2011–2013 Sky News: Press Preview Newspaper Reviewer 10 episodes
2011 I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here! NOW! Guest 4 episodes
2011–2017 Sky News: Sunrise Newspaper Reviewer 67 episodes
2012–2014 Big Brother's Bit on the Side Guest 19 episodes
2012 BBC Breakfast Guest 1 episode
2013–2014 BBC Inside Out: London Reporter 5 episodes
2013–2014 Big Brother's Bit on the Psych Presenter 28 episodes
2015–2018 ...Make You Laugh Out Loud Voiceover 32 episodes
2015 Celebrity Big Brother: Heroes and Villains Guest
2015 Iain Lee: My Mixtape Presenter
2015–2017 Sam Delaney's News Thing Panellist 20 episodes
2016 The Saturday Show Guest presenter 2 episodes
2016 Pointless Celebrities Contestant 1 episode
2016 Blink Contestant 1 episode
2017 The Vintage TV Sessions Presenter 1 episode
2017 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Contestant 20 episodes
2017 I'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp Contestant 18 episodes
2017– Lorraine Competition Presenter 7 episodes
2017–2018 Loose Women Competition Presenter 37 episodes
2017– Good Morning Britain Guest Showbiz Reporter 38 episodes
2018 Sunday Brunch Guest 1 episode
2018 Me and My Mental Health Guest
2018 Saturday Morning with James Martin Guest 1 episode
2018 Celebrity Chase Contestant 1 episode
2019 Celebrity Game Night Panellist 1 episode
2020 Mandy Himself 1 episode

Filmography

Audio and Radio Industry Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 Iain Lee Best Speech Presenter – Non-Breakfast Gold[48]
2020 "Overdosing man calls Iain Lee" RadioTimes Moment of the Year Gold[49]
Iain Lee Best Speech Presenter Shortlisted[49]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "talkRADIO announces presenter line-up and launch date". talkSPORT. 8 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lee, Iain [@iainlee] (10 July 2020). "Here's the exciting press release for #TLNA with me AND @FlippinKath launches July 20th at 9pm" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. ↑ "Radio star Iain winning people's hearts". Slough Observer. 3 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Duerden, Nick (29 January 2005). "Iain Lee: Almost famous". The Independent. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 Williams-Akoto, Tessa (5 March 2008). "DJ Iain Lee: A home for everything". The Independent. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Lee, Iain (22 January 2015). "6 – Chapter 1 : Something On The Horizon". IainLee.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Iain Lee – In Conversation". Beyond the Title. July 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Plunkett, John (6 November 2007). "Lee leaves LBC evening slot". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  9. ↑ "mediauk.com/radio/news/125/lbc-97.3". Archived from the original on 6 May 2009.
  10. ↑ The Malloys (19 April 2009). "Iain "GENERAL" Lee v Matt "THE PAIN" Early - 28th April 2009" – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ Plunkett, John (18 October 2011). "Absolute Radio's Iain Lee leaves station". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Sherwin, Adam (17 July 2020). "Iain Lee talks breakdowns, bust-ups and why he's taking his award-winning radio show to Twitch". iNews. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Iain Lee departs BBC WM 95.6 after mix-up". RadioToday.co.uk. August 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  14. ↑ Rabbit Hole TV (14 May 2014). Iain Lee 3 Counties Radio Breakfast Show wins Gold at the Radio Academy Awards 2014 (Television production). Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  15. 1 2 "BBC apologises for Iain Lee's 'go and do the black and Asian show' comment". The Guardian. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  16. ↑ "Iain Lee departs BBC Three Counties Radio". RadioToday.co.uk. 14 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "Audio Radio Industry Awards 2017 – winners". RadioToday.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  18. ↑ "Iain Lee intervenes to help Plymouth overdose man". BBC News. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  19. ↑ "Greg James and Dotty win big at 'radio Oscars'". BBC News. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "Iain Lee announces departure from talkRADIO after 4 years". RadioToday. 2 June 2020.
  21. 1 2 Smith, Gwendolyn (14 July 2020). "Iain Lee and Katherine Boyle: 'Women are normally sidekicks on the radio'". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "Radio station changes schedule for first time in 15 years". Oxford Mail. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  23. ↑ "All change at JACKfm as Iain Lee gets a Rude Awakening". RadioToday. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  24. ↑ "Iain Lee 'retiring' from broadcasting as he hands in notice at radio station to focus on career in counselling". 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  25. ↑ "Iain Lee quits JACK fm and announces retirement from radio". RadioToday. 6 February 2023.
  26. ↑ "Channel 4 rapped over Dando". BBC. 27 January 2000. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  27. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Katie (28 November 2017). "I'm A Celebrity stars open up about depression and suicidal thoughts". men.
  28. ↑ Agius, Nicola (22 December 2017). "Richard Arnold taking a break from Good Morning Britain: "I'm disappearing for a while"". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  29. ↑ Moir, Sophia (22 December 2017). "I'm A Celebrity's Iain Lee lands a job as showbiz reporter on GMB". Metro. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  30. ↑ https://www.retrovideogamer.co.uk/rvg-interviews-iain-lee/
  31. ↑ Lee, Iain. "Console Wars: Iain Lee takes sides". MSN Tech and Gadgets UK. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  32. ↑ Stuart, Keith (18 March 2008). "Games don't make good TV, says ex-videogame TV show presenter". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  33. ↑ Butler, Robert (27 October 2009). Behind the scenes at Dave with Iain Lee (Documentary). Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  34. ↑ "Iain Lee Presents...Shindiggery". Archived from the original on 20 December 2008.
  35. ↑ "Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard". Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  36. ↑ the British IBM (17 July 2012). the British IBM - the British IBM (Music video). Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  37. ↑ Joe Marchese (2 July 2015). "I'm A Believer: Micky Dolenz's Rare MGM Singles Arriving on Deluxe Reissue - The Second Disc". The Second Disc.
  38. ↑ "I'm a Believer: 7a Brings Micky Dolenz Concert with Orchestra to CD and Vinyl". theseconddisc.com. 14 November 2017.
  39. ↑ "7A RECORDS LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  40. ↑ Lee, Iain (26 May 2017). Withheld, Straight to Air Calls All Night - Late Nights with Iain Lee on talkRADIO.
  41. ↑ "Iain Lee intervenes to help Plymouth overdose man". BBC News. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  42. ↑ "Iain Lee says 'dying' Plymouth man who called him is 'back home'". BBC News. 26 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  43. ↑ "Greg James and Dotty win big at 'radio Oscars'". BBC News. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  44. ↑ "Iain Lee announces departure from talkRADIO after 4 years". RadioToday. 2 June 2020.
  45. 1 2 Speare-Cole, Rebecca (4 July 2019). "TalkRadio presenter Iain Lee reveals he is 'bisexual' and says he had sex with older men from the age of 14". Evening Standard. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  46. ↑ Baillie, Katie (4 March 2018). "Iain Lee reveals he's divorcing his wife as he battles against 'obsessing about drugs'". Metro. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  47. ↑ Smith, Ellen (5 October 2020). "I'm a Celebrity star Iain Lee reveals drug relapse". FM 104. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  48. ↑ "Audio Radio Industry Awards 2017 – winners". RadioToday.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  49. 1 2 "Audio and Radio Industry Awards 2020 – Winners". RadioToday.co.uk. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
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