So you’ve been touring your new show, If you would prefer a Milder Comedian, Please Ask For One, for a few months now. Are you enjoying the tour?
I’m really enjoying the shows and it is nice to play to people who, after the TV series, have more of an idea what to expect. There are less people coming who want conventional stand-up, so there are less confused and bored people.
Have you yet been asked for a milder comedian whilst on tour?
I haven’t been asked for a milder comedian, but I think a constant diet of Michael McIntyre would be the perfect alternative.
You do a bit in this show on Top Gear which has become quite notorious. Do you find it is a sense of moral injustice which helps drive your comedy?
Well, funny is the main thing, but I am irked by the glibness of Top Gear humour, the lack of responsibility, the softness of the targets, the pungent aroma of playground bullying.
It seemed for ages that you were trying to break into a pseudo-mainstream, or at least achieve a sense of sustainability. Do you think you’ve finally achieved that?
Sustainability is the key word. I don’t want to be famous, or be recognised, or go on panel shows or be in magazines. I just want to do enough for live work to be sustainable until I die, and the TV show has really helped this. I don’t make a loss on live work anymore, but I used to.
Have you been to the revamped Birmingham Town Hall before?
No. I sang there as a choirboy in the mid-70s though, I think. I hope the acoustics aren’t too bouncy.
You’ve had a couple of DVDs recorded in The Stand in Glasgow. Is this one of your favourite venues?
I do like The Stand in Glasgow, and also their Edinburgh venue. Tommy Sheppard has hand-reared a combative but comedy literate audience, free of stags and hens, and it’s the perfect alternative to Jongleurs chains. The Glee in Brum is also good though.
Finally, any news on a second series of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle?
They tell me in January. If not, back on the road with a new show from August next year.
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Keilloh, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Ishamayura Byrd, 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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Anon, westhamonline.com
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot