Those with long enough memories will remember the regular TV appearances, stand-up shows and occasional film roles that once turned him into a household name. 

But while Lee Evans was nowhere near a studio audience, he remained in good company during a rare public appearance in London on Tuesday. 

The comic, 59, was joined by wife Heather Nudds at Covent Garden restaurant The Delaunay, where the couple were making their first joint appearance in five years. 

Evidently in high spirits, he greeted onlookers with a wave as he exited the establishment in a smart two-piece suit, canvas shoes and a blue cap. 

Reclusive Evans was last seen in public in 2021, albeit without his wife, as he went for a bike ride in Essex. 

Stepping out: Comedian Lee Evans and wife Heather Nudds made their first public appearance in five years on Tuesday as they dined out in London 

Upbeat: Evidently in high spirits, he greeted onlookers with a wave as he exited the establishment in a smart two-piece suit, canvas shoes and a blue cap

The comedian shocked fans in 2014 when he announced he was retiring from stand-up comedy to more spend time with his wife Heather Nudds and their daughter Mollie. 

Evans briefly came out of retirement in 2018 to appear in the play Pinter Three while he appeared in the play Wither Would You Go? the year before.

Also in 2017, he walked the red carpet at the film premiere of the movie Kenny in Liverpool, however this is what his time in the spotlight has been limited to.

He confirmed his retirement from stand-up comedy during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2014, admitting the death of his manager, Addison Cresswell, had ‘put things in perspective’.

He said: ‘I don’t know, I’ve come to a junction in my life where – please forgive me it sounds very narcissistic – I’ve done musicals and plays and films and stand up and you sort of get to a point where you go “I don’t know what else to do next”.

‘I want to go and see my wife, she deserves my time, I’ve been working solidly.’

Ross asked how long he planned to carry on in his job, to which he replied: ‘I am knackered. This is it…

‘Finished. This is the end. I am not doing anything.’

Previously: Evans and Nudds enjoy a night out at The Groucho Club, where he was celebrating the launch of his book, The Life Of Lee, in September 2011

There he is: Evans was out in London for a romantic meal with his wife at Covent Garden restaurant The Delaunay

Old times: As well as stand-up comedy, Evans made a brief foray into mainstream acting, with prominent roles in 1998 comedy There’s Something About Mary (pictured L-R Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon, Cameron Diaz, Chris Elliott and Lee Evans)

He went on: ‘All I have ever done is work and Addison always used to put his arm around me and say, “Don’t worry, I will look after you. It is okay”…

‘My dad always said to me, “You have got to work” so I constantly worked and did comedy tours.

‘I think I have ignored for far too long my missus, and I want to spend a lot more time with her.’

As well as stand-up comedy, Evans made a brief foray into mainstream acting, with prominent roles in 1998 comedy There’s Something About Mary – in which he starred alongside Ben Stiller and Cameron Diaz – and 1995 science fiction epic The Fifth Element, with Bruce Willis and Gary Oldman. 

According to The Richest, Evan’s net worth is estimated to be around the £5.6million mark, as of 2021. 

Don’t mind me: Reclusive Evans was last seen in public in 2021, albeit without his wife, as he went for a bike ride in Essex

  The life and career of Lee Evans  

1964: Lee is born in Bristol to Irish mother Shirley and Welsh father Dave

1975: The family move to Essex

Late 1970s: Lee moves to Yorkshire and becomes a drummer in punk rock band The Forgotten Five

1981: Lee meets Heather at a fairground in Billericay

1983: The couple tie the knot  

1990s: Lee soars to fame with his energetic performances.

1993: He won the Perrier Comedy Award for his work at the Edinburgh Festival

1995: Lee makes his acting debut in Funny Bones and stars in The Fifth Element and Mouse Hunt two years later

2004: He makes his stage debut in Endgame and The Producers  

2005: Lee broke the world record for a solo act performing to the biggest comedy audience –  10,108 people at Manchester Arena 

2008: During his Big tour he performed to over 500,000 people on 59 dates. The DVD of the tour sold 1m copies 

2011: His record-breaking 67 date UK Roadrunner tour sells 911,000 DVDs and 733,000 tickets. The tour nets £12.9m

2014: Lee announces his retirement 

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