He might need the time off to calm down. From the outset he was in typically intolerant mode, warning that if he saw any phones turned on they will be smashed “and you can take it up with the police”. He did not carry out his threat but he did briefly wade into the stalls to give someone a mean stare.
This is a show packed with magnificent jokes at the expense of Brexit, Trump, the sex in Game Of Thrones (“Peter Stringfellow’s Lord Of The Rings”) and much more. There is also some self-indulgent guff where he dissects his ongoing routines, though it is very entertaining self-indulgent guff.
He generated considerable mileage out of mocking his membership of the metropolitan liberal elite, N16 branch, too. But as the monologue moved into the second half a deeper theme developed as he yearned for a simpler, less narcissistic, pre-instant gratification age. In his grandparents’ day, he noted, people had to walk miles to find bondage outfits, now they can just click on Amazon.
There is nothing new about creating an exaggerated version of oneself for humorous effect, yet the road-hardened veteran has made this style his own. Every idea is pushed to the limit, from his impression of under-forties on their smartphones, bashing the screens like apes, to adopting an absurd bow-legged stance to satirise fellow stand-up Russell Howard. The result is both intellectually ambitious and clownishly jocular. The comedy world will be a less funny place without this performer at the top of his game.
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Hiewy, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Mearecate, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk