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.
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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John Robins, Comedian
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube