Stewart Lee is feeling chatty. It’s notable that Lee, famous for his deadpan, languid delivery, is smiling much more these days. That may have something to do with him being a new father, or, perhaps he’s feeling more comfortable in his clown shoes, having been placed at No. 41 in Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Comedians Of All Time poll.
Despite a relentless mocking of the ridiculousness of lists like this, Lee has chosen to embrace it as fact, while at the same time putting a gentle two fingers up to his quilt-loving mum who prefers cruise ship gag merchants.
He uses the conceit to question approval, why it matters and from whom we should seek it.
Lee’s obviously sore that he was commissioned by BBC 2 out of nowhere, only to be dropped equally out of the blue, but any bitterness is so deftly delivered that he never endangers his top bloke persona.
No one matches Lee’s powers of comic deconstruction and the only thing that stops him getting five stars is that 90s Comedian from 2005 was better.
Until Aug 27 (not 15), Udderbelly’s Pasture (V300), 7.30pm. www.udderbelly.co.uk
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Stuart, Chortle
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Idrie, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk