Lee Mack has become one of the country's most recognisable comedians and presenters thanks to his appearances on panel shows, his own sitcom, and various presenting gigs.
The 53-year-old has a gorgeous wife, but says nobody ever believes they found love before he got famous. The Not Going Out Star said he has to put up with people believing that his other half Tara was attracted by his high profile and fortune, rather than his personality, Mirror Online reports.
A fellow comedian's sister even asked if Lee had had to do something heroic to save her life in order to convince her to go out with him, Lee revealed.
READ MORE: Lee Mack floored by 'incredibly bold' statement about his wife
The sister of Roisin Conaty, 42, had revealed her belief that they had got together when Lee's fame rose, but he explained that he'd actually known Tara since his university days.
Lee said on a podcast: "We talked the other day with Roisin Conaty. Her sister met Tara and said 'I assume you two have been together after you became a comedian and got a bit of money.'
"And I said 'no, no, we met before I ever was a comedian when we were at university.' "And she looked aghast at why this woman would be with me.
"And do you know what she said? 'Did you save her life or something?' I thought that's an incredibly bold statement to make after five minutes of meeting someone."
The couple married in a private ceremony in 2005 just one year after welcoming their first child, Arlo. Lee and Tara then welcomed their second son, Louie shortly after, before welcoming their youngest, Mollie.
Lee first shot to fame by winning So You Think You're Funny at the 1995 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Born and bred in Southport, the comedian, whose real name is Lee Gordon McKillop, first appeared on our screens in the early 2000s and his career has since gone from strength to strength.
He is most well-known for being a team captain on the BBC comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?, writing and starring in the sitcom Not Going Out, and for hosting the Sky One show Duck Quacks Don't Echo. His most recent show, The 1% Club, returns to ITV this weekend.
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