Way-out, laddish humour’ – Richard Herring and Stewart Lee brought their This Morning with Richard Not Judy show to the Woodville Halls, Gravesend Award-winning duo Lee and Herring have the confidence of market traders, the gift of the gab, an outstanding ability to exchange lines and ideas and are clearly the most natural and well-matched of partners.
On their current tour, which carries the title of their television series, This Morning with Richard Not Judy, their throwaway show bills warned: “Will sell out.”
But there were plenty of empty seats at the Woodville Halls, a fact they were quick to inject into their opening routine. The constant, if jokey, put-downs of Gravesend and the locals became yawningly repetitive.
It seems fair game for a touch of the topicals but harping on about Gravesend being Kent’s outdoor toilet, a former swamp, and the black heart of Britain suggests limited material.
Stewart Lee and Richard Herring are dressed with shirt tails hanging out and perform throughout wearing head mikes. Behind the smiling personalities and stage presence, theirs is a way-out, laddish humour and they are intending to shock. George Michael gets the full treatment, a man from the stalls claiming to be Hew G Erection is crowned king for the night, another is asked how often he has sex and when national average sex figures are the topic, laughing girls are dismissed as “cackling witches”.
There is also a long and taste-less routine about the grief which followed the death of Diana, Princess of Wales (which they could not do on TV) which is presented with mock respect. Also involved is keyboard player Richard Thomas who, with his song lyrics, pushes the boundaries even further out.
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Bosco239, youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Idrie, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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A D Ward, Twitter