JackDee

Honouring his existing commitments out of duty, he assumed a grumpy, sardonic demeanour (no longer caring whether or not the audience liked him) which appealed to punters, resulting in him finally (and accidentally) finding his comedy voice.

His big television break came in 1992, a year after he had won Best Stage Newcomer at The Comedy Awards.

Whilst continuing to do stand-up on TV he has branched out into acting, garnering critical acclaim in the stage play Art, and for the TV drama The Deputy.

Lead Balloon seems the perfect symbiosis of his acting talents and stand-up style, building on his popularity which was nurtured by a series of witty John Smith's adverts and consolidated by his honourable conduct on the first Celebrity Big Brother.