Iain Lee announces retirement from presenting and new career
Iain Lee has announced his retirement from broadcasting to become a full time counsellor.
The 49-year-old stand-up comedian and presenter - who was the centre of a bullying row when he appeared on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017 - has quit his radio job at regional station Jack FM confessing he is "tired" of broadcasting.
Lee tweeted: "Hey everyone, a bit of news, a few weeks ago I handed my notice in at Jack FM. Not sure how long I've got left (maybe nothing after this tweet!). It wasn't working for me with no producer, podcast or daily best bits.
Read more: Iain Lee calls out Rebekah Vardy after she denies I'm A Celebrity bullying claim
"It's also made me realise I don't want to work in radio anymore so I'm announcing my retirement from broadcasting to focus full time on my counselling work. There are of course exceptions."
Hey everyone, a bit of news, a few weeks ago I handed my notice in at Jack FM. Not sure how long I've got left (maybe nothing after this tweet!). It wasn't working for me with no producer, podcast or daily best bits.
It's also made me realise I don't want to work in radio...— Iain Lee (@iainlee) February 6, 2023
He added: "I've been working in this industry for 30 years and I'm really tired. So, onto new and better adventures. Thank you radio, for most of it it was a blast."
The father-of-two said he will continue to do voiceover work "and the odd gig on 4 Extra."
He went on: "I'll still consider offers but won't chase them."
In 2018 Lee saved a man from taking his own life when he called into his radio show.
He began studying to become a counsellor in September 2020.
The former star of The 11 O’Clock Show and presenter of Channel 4 breakfast show RI:SE was one of the original line-up of presenters on talkRADIO when it launched in 2016, before leaving in 2020.
He joined regional radio station Jack FM as host of the breakfast show in July 2022.
Lee has two sons with ex-wife, journalist Helena Wilkinson. They split in 2018.
At the time he confessed to relapsing into drug use after 13 years of being sober. In September 2020 he admitted to breaking another two-and-a-half period of sobriety by taking cocaine.
In 2019 he came out as bisexual.
Lee confessed on his talkRadio show: "I guess I'm coming out at the age of 46. I'm terrified by it."
The TV star was also caught up in a bullying row with Rebekah Vardy after they both appeared on I'm A Celebrity together.
Lee suggested that Vardy made him feel unhappy and isolated during their time in the camp.
Vardy responded: "Edited TV looks a certain way. I don't have anything bad to say about him."
Lee tweeted a screengrab of the interview, saying: "So @RebekahVardy claiming she didn't bully me because 'edited TV looks a certain way'.
Read more: Iain Lee saves suicidal man by talking to him on radio show
"They can only edit what you do and say. You don't get to say if I was bullied. You made my time in the jungle miserable."
Watch: Iain Lee saved radio caller from ending his life
