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.
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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John Robins, Comedian
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube