Stewart Lee returns for what seems like his 145th Edinburgh show with a ‘work in progress’. Likely to be a different show every night, Lee is showcasing old and new material which he intends to use for an upcoming television project. Because of the format it’s impossible to say what will come up on any given night, but with this old-hand there is always the guarantee of seeing a stand-up who is completely at ease with his material and who promises to have the audience eating out of his hand.
His trademark delivery is slow, considered and uses repetition to dramatic comedic effect – especially, on this night, when he reprises his ‘Del Boy falling through the bar’ routine from last year’s 41st Best Stand Up Ever show. A deconstruction of a record sleeve by a black American comic seems pretty likely to be on the bill throughout the Fringe and builds up beautifully to devastating comedic effect. Ever self-deprecating, Lee takes time to rail against himself as he ventures into well-worn “lazy” observations on Travelodge hotels. Other highlights include a self-penned addition to the modern phenomenon of tragedy literature and definitive material on the much-publicised Fringe box office problems which should make other comics forget about even trying to cover the subject.
The only problem is that going to see any other comedy performer after the mighty Lee feels like switching over to EastEnders after watching a Dennis Potter drama. Simply one of the most mesmerising comedians working today.
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, 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
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Stuart, Chortle
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Bosco239, youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com