For years, Mark Lamarr was a mainstay on our screens, during which time he largely gained a profile for his acid-tongue remarks.
The comedian, radio DJ and TV presenter is best known for being a team captain on the comedy panel game show Shooting Stars for two years from 1995, before going on to host Never Mind the Buzzcocks from 1996 to 2005.
In the 90s, Lamarr gained the moniker of ‘TV’s Mr. Nasty’ and became notorious for taking down guests who didn’t play along with Buzzocks’ format, and he also had no qualms in directing his acerbic wit towards his co-stars.
However, 20 years on from leaving the series, Lamarr has stepped away from the limelight and is now ‘effectively retired’.
This week, he was thrust back into the spotlight following a court appearance, during which he fought to keep his driving licence after being charged with speeding. It was there he revealed he has been facing ‘exceptional hardship’.
Here’s everything we know about what happened after a judge ordered the star’s licence to be suspended.
What is Mark Lamarr famous for?
Mark Lamarr first rose to fame in the early 1990s co-presenting the late-night TV variety show The World.
However, later reflecting on the job, he declared it was ‘no fun at all’.
‘It was a horrible, horrible, repulsive environment to work in, mainly due to the company. They were just very…just an obnoxious group of people to deal with and I think that came across in the shows they ended up producing.’
After leaving the series, he went on be an outside presenter on The Big Breakfast from 1992 to 1996.
At the same time as working on this show he also joined the wonderfully bizarre Shooting Stars, hosted by Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, but he later declined a return for the fourth season in 2002 and said the following year it was ‘strangely no fun whatsoever’.
‘I was sort of playing a particularly moody, almost mute character and you end up just doing that… I mean it was always fun with Vic and Bob because they are old friends and it was nice working with them, but no, it wasn’t fun.’
His next major role was as the host of the brilliantly edgy music quiz show Never Mind the Buzzcocks when it premiered in 1996. He remained in his seat at the top desk for 17 series before leaving in 2005.
Lamarr became known for his quick-witted banter and enthusiasm to mock celebrity guests on Buzzcocks, with one notable example being his infamous bust-up with Chris Moyles, the pair then embroiled in a very public feud.
Opening the next episode with an ‘apology’ to the DJ, Lamarr didn’t mince his words when declaring: ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks, the show that says “Sorry seems to be the hardest word”, whereas “DIE YOU OILY PIG IN A DUNCE HAT!” rolls off the tongue quite nicely.’
Lamarr briefly hit the news again in 2024 when comedian Josh Widdicombe also detailed a less than savoury encounter with him, claiming on Kathy Burke’s Where There’s A Will There’s A Wake podcast that the TV presenter was ‘horrible’ to him when they met.
Despite his public run-ins with other famous faces, Lamarr had many fans who applauded his sharp nonchalance.
Over the years Lamarr has also presented radio shows on BBC GLR, BBC Radio 5 and BBC Radio 1. He’s also produced compilation albums for several record labels.
Why has Mark Lamarr been banned from driving?
In June last year Lamarr was charged with speeding at 46mph in a 40mph zone in Twickenham.
This week, on Tuesday, he then appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court.
During the hearing, he spoke about his struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome and fought to keep his licence, saying taking public transport would be incredibly difficult for him.
He said that using a bus stop would be ‘out of the question’ on a bad health day, adding that walking to a train station could also be ‘quite exhausting’.
Speaking to the court, he also said he was ‘effectively retired’ and was ‘dealing records’ – using his 2019 Volvo XC60 to ‘find stock’.
He also claimed he needed car to drive his young daughter around and to visit his mother, who has arthritis.
‘It was very early in the morning, there wasn’t anybody around,’ he said in court.
‘Sometimes when there’s no other traffic around at all your mind isn’t quite as concentrated on the few miles an hour of the speed limit you are exceeding.’
The court heard Lamarr, who lives in Chiswick in west London, already had nine points on his driving licence for three prior speeding offences between August 2023 and May 2025.
Although chairwoman of the bench Margaret Mansi noted the star would suffer some hardship, it would not amount to exceptional hardship.
Despite his attempts to keep his licence, Lamarr was barred from driving for six months and fined £76 after admitting the speeding offence.
He was also ordered to pay a £30 surcharge and £130 in prosecution costs.
What is he doing now?
In 2010 Lamarr dramatically quit the BBC after decades working for the broadcaster, declaring that his radio bosses were turning their attention to mainstream music, which left him ‘extremely uncomfortable’.
At the time he wrote in a letter: ‘It’s become obvious over the last year the station has become much less interested in non-mainstream music, and my position there has been extremely uncomfortable.
What is chronic fatigue syndrome?
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also called chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, is a long-term condition that can affect different parts of the body. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness. The causeis unknown and it can affect anyone, including children.
The 4 main symptoms are fatigue, sleep problems, brain fog and post-exertional malaise.
Some people with ME/CFS may also have pain in different parts of the body or flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, headache and aching joints or muscles.
While there’s currently no cure, there are treatments to manage the condition and relieve the symptoms including energy management, cognitive behavioural threapy and medicine to control symptoms such as pain and sleeping problems.
‘It’s a sign of the times I suppose. I’m stupidly proud of the shows I’ve done there for 12 years and I know I always did the right thing. I’m equally sure I’m doing the right thing now.’
Responding to Lamarr’s criticism, a BBC spokeswoman said that the station was ‘sorry to see him go.
In 2018 he hit headlines after being charged with common assault and false imprisonment, however they were later dropped due to ‘insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of prosecution’.
Five years later, Lamarr announced he’d officially retired, with the star not being involved in any public TV or radio projects since then. He’s also largely taken a step back from posting on social media.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.