Comic reveals his fear of flying

Lee Mack has revealed that he is so scared of of flying he won’t get on a plane with his family - and instead takes a car or train to their holiday destinations and meets them there.

The comedian has recalled how wife Tara and their three children flew to Barcelona and Switzerland for recent breaks, while he made his own way by road.

He said he once went on a British Airways course to cure him of his phobia, which was enough to get him on one flight 11 years ago, but hasn’t ventured into the air since.

The Not Going Out star says he’s a control freak who has to be behind the wheel of a car on the road - which can’t translate to flying.

He told the Mirror: 'If we go on holiday - and we have done for the last couple of years – Tara has flown with the kids and I’ve met them there. And I’m including Barcelona, I’m including Switzerland.

‘You know why - they won’t let me sit up front and drive it.’

Mack came unstuck on a 2009 Children in Need fundraiser where he and Frank Skinner travelled over land to the Turkish border, but  overlooked the fact he’d have to get back.

His original plan was to take the train, but that would have meant missing  his wife’s 40th birthday.

‘So I went on a flying course to teach me how to be less fearful of flying, where at Heathrow you get to fly a simulated jumbo jet.’

That got him home, but he has never been able to fly since.

Mack previously said he wouldn’t call he fear a phobia, as ‘that implies an irrational fear, but being afraid of flying is perfectly rational. It’s not normal to fly and it’s the people who aren’t scared who I think are irrational.’

Published: 27 Jan 2021