Stewart Lee’s comedy vehicle looks like a clown car.
His show appears to be a stand-up gig in a nightclub, with added sketches, and Stewart Lee himself looks like a middle-aged man in a suit that’s straining at the buttons. It’s not a comedy suit though, like Harry Hill’s trademark collars.
It’s more like the suit of a man who was surprised to find his old jacket didn’t fit any more but decided there was no point in buying a new one because he’s been the same size all of his life.
I mention the suit because Stewart Lee, who went from Fist Of Fun to penning Jerry Springer The Opera, is 40 now. A difficult age when, if he’s not careful, stand-up patter starts to sound like a one-man edition of Grumpy Old Men – or just plain envy.
Each week on his show Lee will be bitching about something. Tonight, it’s books – specifically celebrity hardbacks, the tragic lives genre, Dan Brown – whatever sells by the shed-load.
Reading between the lines, Lee might just be really peeved that his own debut novel didn’t match the dizzying sales figures enjoyed by the likes of Chris Moyles or Jeremy Clarkson. No wonder he can’t stick Harry Potter.
“I’ve read the complete works of the romantic poet and visionary William Blake!” he blurts out at one point. You half-expect him to grab the cameraman by the lapels and scream: “I went to Oxford!!”
Fortunately, most of the time, Lee is very funny. As funny as Moyles though?
Watch and decide for yourself.
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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A D Ward, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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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
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Bosco239, youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Idrie, Youtube
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Brighton Argus
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter