“I think I hate Richard Hammond more than anyone who has ever lived,” says Stewart Lee, in a new routine that has already become notorious (to Daily Mail readers, at least) about the Top Gear presenter and “professional apologist for ignorance and bullying”. Despite his recent (modest) TV success, Lee burnishes his reputation here as the fierce scourge of our dimwit mainstream. Watching his work is like attending some insurrectionist cell, where truth may finally and fearlessly be spoken about the malevolent powers-that-be.
What makes it more bracing still – and funnier – is that Lee packages his rage as cool irony. Perhaps this is the only triumph he can have over the likes of Jeremy Clarkson and Chris Moyles, to kill them softly with sarcasm, timing and pregnant restraint. In Lee’s hands, these are such deadly weapons that one longs to see them wielded against a wider range of targets. He tells of his disappoint ment with “media, government and culture”, but confines his comedy to the first and last. It’s hilarious, it’s cathartic, but sometimes the Hammond-bashing gets a bit fish-in-a-barrel.
There are fine routines, too, about moving to the country for the so-called “quality of life”, and about loyalty cards in coffee shops. But the showstopping skit takes aim at advertising’s appropriation of art – and, by extension, of our souls. The item stems from Lee’s favourite song cropping up on a cider ad, but he tilts the truth into something weird and traumatic about his family history being violated for commercial gain. Throughout, the tension between precision and disgust is tantalising. But beyond the disgust is a bruised idealism, tenderly articulated guitar in hands, at the close of the show. This is comedy with a brain and a heart, from a standup effortlessly maintaining top gear.
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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A D Ward, 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
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com