‘EXCEPTIONAL HARDSHIP’: Mark Lamarr reveals battle with debilitating condition that saw 90s TV icon start new career out of the spotlight
MARK Lamarr today told a court about his battle with a debilitating condition that saw the 90s icon embark on new career away from the screen.
The comedian, 59, appeared before magistrates today charged with speeding at 46mph in a 40mph zone.
Lamarr, who was a regular on 90s TV shows including Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Shooting Stars, claimed a driving ban would cause him “exceptional hardship”.
He told Willesden Magistrates’ Court he suffers with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and that using a bus stop would be “out of the question” on a bad day.
Lamarr claimed that walking to the train station can be “quite exhausting” and revealed how on his “bad days”, he has to lay down for a “day or two”.
He also told JPs he is “effectively retired” and is now “dealing records” – using his 2019 Volvo XC60 to “find stock”.
Lamarr further claimed he needs a car to transport his young daughter and to visit his mother, who has arthritis.
Despite his pleas, the star 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.
Lamarr, who was caught in Twickenham, South West London, last June, told the court: “It was very early in the morning, there wasn’t anybody around.
“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 already had nine points on his driving licence for three prior speeding offences between August 2023 and May 2025.
Chairwoman of the bench Margaret Mansi noted that while he would suffer some hardship, it would not amount to exceptional hardship.
Lamarr, born Mark Jones, shot to fame as host of The Word in the early 1990s, then worked as an outdoors presenter on Big Brother.
He was a team captain on comedy quiz Shooting Stars in the mid-1990s where he was dubbed a “50s throwback” and “greasy lover” by hosts Vic and Bob.
The comic later hosted BBC2’s Buzzcocks for nine years, quitting in 2006.
Lamarr later worked on Radio 2, wrote film scripts and worked as a music producer.
But he has since stepped away from the showbiz world.
