Over the last two decades, Andy Lee has cemented himself as one of Australia’s most familiar – and favourite – funnymen. And, as he heads into his ninth season of hit panel game show The Hundred with Andy Lee, the laughs are set to continue, with the host rating it a “110 out of 100” as he promises more exciting guests and “wild stories” galore.
But, hosting duties aren’t the only thing keeping the star busy right now.
Andy, 44, also has a ton of other projects on his plate, such as his podcast with Hamish Blake, his thriving Aussie pub, Old Mates, in New York City, his Dim Sim brand, Dimmies and Tinnies, and, of course, planning his wedding with long-time partner Rebecca Harding, 35.
Taking some time out, Andy sits down with WHO to talk about The Hundred‘s new season, as well as life off-camera.
WHO: What do you think Australians love about The Hundred so much?
Andy: “They love talking about themselves. I mean, everyone loves it.
“When you get recognised in a speech, you’re like, ‘Oh, great.’ I think that’s exactly what’s happened with The Hundred. The whole show is about them. Mike’s [Goldstein] hilarious and Sophie Monk is unbelievable at what she does – we get the real Soph, uninhibited – and I think that’s what makes this season the best so far.
“Every one of the guests kind of gets it. It’s a really safe space. There have been about 15,000 to 20,000 people apply to be in the hundred, so we’re spoiled for choice.”
WHO: Are there any interesting guests this season?
Andy: “Well, we kick off the whole season with the biggest person in the country: the Prime Minister [Anthony Albanese].
“I said [to his team], “Is there anything we’re not allowed to ask?” and they said, “No, go for your life.” They probably, by the end of it, wished they hadn’t said that, because it ends up in some tricky situations for the PM.
“We do a full segment with him as he faces the hundred, and the first question is how many people actually recognise him? I was surprised it wasn’t 100 per cent. (laughs)”
WHO: Do the hundred ever shock you with their answers?
Andy: “They absolutely shock me every time. I cannot predict it.”
WHO: The show often discovers surprising “hot takes” on social issues. What’s your own hot take at the moment?
Andy: “I thought that Justin Bieber getting up at Coachella and playing YouTube clips of himself was slightly lazy.
“And I feel like Sabrina Carpenter and others that actually put effort into their huge productions would be looking up going, “Jeepers, is that all we had to do?” (laughs).”
WHO: Between everything you have going on, what excites you the most creatively right now?
Andy: “Dimmies and Tinnies has been really funny, because I never expected to go into the food space.
“We just thought it’d be funny to try to make a premium dim sim while we were mucking around in COVID – I didn’t realise it would take so long. It took four years.
“Then I thought it’d be funny to release them as 24-packs, so you get a slab of [dim sims] like you get a slab of beers. The major consumer complaint wasn’t about the food – they love the taste – it was that the box was way too big to fit in people’s freezers! So yeah, we’re bringing out 10-packs now and people can rejoice!”
WHO: You and Hamish have built such an enduring partnership. What’s your secret?
Andy: “Regular sex. End quote (laughs).”
(The Hundred with Andy Lee premieres Tue., Apr. 28 on the Nine Network)
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