I’d given up on ever again finding stand-up on TV funny, so Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle didn’t arouse antic expectations. But actually it is properly funny, and what makes him funny is instructive. He plays a character. It’s not him, it’s a performance. He’s not just a spooky, needy fat man telling jokes; Lee’s character is a spooky, needy fat man, a metropolitan socialist with a bucket of self-loathing, insecurity, thin skin and well-deserved doubts, telling jokes. He is a Corbynista Tony Hancock, and it’s a good creation, delivered with astute vehemence.
Lee points out that comedy has made him a member of the middle class, where he is hated, and you know this is an act because, in real life, Lee went to a public school — he was a contemporary of Richard Hammond, whom he once hilariously wished was dead — and then to Oxford; and he writes musicals. His mockable working- class persona is tee-hee gold. If you regret the passing of really whiny political humour and wondered who on earth was going to pick up the jester’s cap, look no further.
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Bosco239, youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Tweeter Kyriakou, 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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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube