When is a show about Brexit and Trump not about Brexit and Trump? Stewart Lee‘s latest effort was an essay on the social media-driven cultural landscape, refracted through a prism of 2016’s EU referendum and US presidential election. Set against a backdrop of cheap stand-up DVDs and an artistic framing device, Content Provider was yet another triumph from a performer who has steadily grown his fan-base in similar proportion to his critical acclaim.
His first proper show since Carpet Remnant World, having concentrated for a few years on running in material for his Comedy Vehicle TV series, didn’t merely focus on the volatile political climate, also taking in music, Game of Thrones, and the commercialisation of S&M. All were fertile ground, and Lee didn’t disappoint even on such disparate topics.
A fascinating aspect of Lee’s trajectory in the past decade or so has been his indulgence of certain stand-up conventions and his own approach, and in many ways this new outing was a continuation of that oeuvre. Utilising the status of the character ‘Stewart Lee’, he’s been able to maintain a distance which resulted in intelligent, superbly-crafted comedy, while Lee himself looked like he was having enormous fun, occasionally betraying the character’s withering commentary on the audience by being unable to conceal his glee.
Content Provider, in much the same way as all his recent output, was a masterclass in control – a tightly-written and -constructed show which knew exactly how to probe and push the audience, leading them one way and then the other. Upping the pace and using fewer instances of repetition than on the Comedy Vehicle series – without veering too far away from that reliable technique – this felt like a joy of a set, familiar in rhythm but with his singular take on the state of the world and some astonishingly good jokes.
At this stage, he’s so far ahead of the field, the rest are in danger of being lapped.
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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World Without End, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, 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
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter