Lee Hurst (born 16 October 1962) is an English comedian. Hurst was a regular panellist on the comedy sports quiz They Think It's All Over from 1995 to 1997. Career Hurst took up comedy after being employed in a number of jobs after leaving school, including working for a building society, the Department of Health and Social Security, and as a telephone engineer for BT. He made his first appearance on stage at the Donmar Warehouse and later said that, at the time, "I only had four jokes and they were really crap but I told the first one and got a huge laugh. I couldn't believe it. I thought, 'This is all right'". In February 2009 Hurst pleaded guilty to criminal damage after smashing an audience member's mobile phone at a comedy show in Guildford in September 2008. Hurst said that he did it out of anger, claiming that his shows regularly appear on websites such as YouTube. Television work They Think It's All Over Hurst got a break when he became the warm-up act for Have I Got News for You and producer Harry Thompson gave him the opportunity to appear on the show as a guest. Hurst first became known to television viewers as a regular team member on the BBC Two comedy sports quiz They Think It's All Over. Hurst was one of the show’s original panellists despite openly admitting to knowing nothing about football or comedy. He appeared alongside David Gower in 42 episodes over the first six series, from the first episode on 14 September 1995 until 1997. He reduced his TV appearances to allow more time for running his comedy club, Lee Hurst's Backyard Comedy Club. He returned for two appearances as a guest on They Think It's All Over towards the end of its run for series 17 in 2004, and for the 2011 Comic Relief 24 Hour Panel People. Other television credits Hurst's other TV credits include presenting Shark Tank, Salvage Squad and The Warehouse, and guest appearances on That's Showbusiness, The Stand Up Show and Have I Got News for You. He has also appeared as a regular panellist on Don't Give Up Your Day Job. He also fronted ITV's short-lived revival of the entertainment show Saturday Live. Have I Got News for You: two appearances in 1994 and 1995 1996 Saturday Live: 6 episodes 2002 Salvage Squad: series 1