He might need the time off to calm down. From the outset he was in typically intolerant mode, warning that if he saw any phones turned on they will be smashed “and you can take it up with the police”. He did not carry out his threat but he did briefly wade into the stalls to give someone a mean stare.
This is a show packed with magnificent jokes at the expense of Brexit, Trump, the sex in Game Of Thrones (“Peter Stringfellow’s Lord Of The Rings”) and much more. There is also some self-indulgent guff where he dissects his ongoing routines, though it is very entertaining self-indulgent guff.
He generated considerable mileage out of mocking his membership of the metropolitan liberal elite, N16 branch, too. But as the monologue moved into the second half a deeper theme developed as he yearned for a simpler, less narcissistic, pre-instant gratification age. In his grandparents’ day, he noted, people had to walk miles to find bondage outfits, now they can just click on Amazon.
There is nothing new about creating an exaggerated version of oneself for humorous effect, yet the road-hardened veteran has made this style his own. Every idea is pushed to the limit, from his impression of under-forties on their smartphones, bashing the screens like apes, to adopting an absurd bow-legged stance to satirise fellow stand-up Russell Howard. The result is both intellectually ambitious and clownishly jocular. The comedy world will be a less funny place without this performer at the top of his game.
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Idrie, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com