In the 70s,
Ian was lead vocalist with two of the top comedy
showgroups of the era – THE MONTANAS and
LIGHT FANTASTIC. In the late 70s Ian went solo
as a stand-up comedian and quickly shot to fame with
three award-winning performances on NEW FACES.
He was twice voted MIDLANDS COMEDIAN OF THE YEAR
and came runner up to Tom O’Connor in the
CLUB MIRROR AWARDS.
Ian then became a regular
member of the popular TV show TIZWAZ and this
was followed by regular TV appearances throughout
the 80s and 90s on such programmes as THE
COMEDIANS, SUMMERTIME SPECIAL, LIVE FROM HER
MAJESTYS, THE PATTER MERCHANTS, DO I NOT LIKE THAT
etc.
SUMMER SEASONS
include Blackpool Central Pier, Pontins, Butlins,
Haven holiday camps, West Park Pavilion Jersey,
Festival Pavilion Skegness, Blackpool South
Pier/Winter Gardens, Thomson Hotels in Spain, Corfu,
Rhodes and the Balearics, Airtours cruises and
Choice Hotels Blackpool. VIDEOS include
THE COMEDIANS and TIZWAS. He has also
performed on board many of the world’s most
luxurious cruise liners.
Ian is currently much in
demand both as a cabaret act and also as an
accomplished after dinner speaker specialising in
sporting functions particularly his personal
favourites, soccer and golf. Ian is also a member of
the Comedians Golfing Society.
‘Sludge’ as he is known in
the business, is best summed up in the following
quotes:
“Fantastic. Very original,
immediate impact …. He’s an incredibly funny man, he
has a marvellous technique…..very tasteful, one of
the funniest men I’ve seen for a long time.”
DANNY LA RUE.
“Comedy came next in the
safe and capable hands of Ian’ Sludge’ Lees – what a
terrific entertainer, he had the whole house
literally falling about …. Very original stand-up
patter and side-splitting visual comedy sketches….55
minutes of terrific audience related comedy and not
a blue gag in sight.”
BARRY BALMAYNE, THE STAGE.
