AUDIENCE members were rolling in the aisles with laughter last night as comedian Lee Mack gave a rousing display at the Hay Festival.

The 44-year-old - who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) last year - has come a long way from being a stable boy - when he had the opportunity to ride triple Grand National winning horse Red Rum - to starring in some of the country's most popular sitcoms.

Lee is currently one of the stars of Friday night entertainment on BBC One - starring in both sitcom Not Going Out and is one of the team captains of comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?

He was also one of the comperes at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace last year.

He was at Hay to promote his first autobiography, entitled Mack the Life, and to give an intimate insight into his life.

"I didn't want to write about personal stuff and I didn't even think about my mum," said Lee, who was born Lee McKillop.

"I also didn't want to mention my step-dad, so I thought that I would say that his name was Fernando Torres, the Chelsea striker.

"I think he once saw Chelsea play."

Ironically, Lee's first stage performance featured him doing impressions of Bobby Ball, who ended up playing his dad in Not Going Out.

That was when he was 12 and 13 and for the next 30 or so years, Lee has known no different - constantly making people laugh in any way he can.

He became a bluecoat for Pontins, but an offensive remark to a member of the audience when he forgot his jokes resulted in him being sacked.

Nevertheless, he persevered and did his first open mic gig in 1994.

Within 18 months, he was a full-time comedian.

"My first joke was that I said that I had a letter in the post that said, do not bend'.

"I thought - 'how can I pick it up?'

"I have always wanted to make people laugh - that is the way that I was brought up.

"The hard bit is writing the joke and a sitcom."

The seventh series of Not Going Out has been commissioned, which is due to air next year.

Lee added that he hopes that it will then be turned into a family sitcom.

His one-year-old daughter Millie is also due to appear on Would I Lie To You? tomorrow night.