41st Best Standup Ever!
By Chris Wilson - Monday, August 13, 2007

This show marks a return to form for Stewart Lee.

In a soft, intelligent manner, Lee used the rather silly fact he had been named in a TV programme as the 41st Best Stand-up of All Time to belittle the television industry, especially Channel 4, the sponsors of his venue, the E4 Udderbelly.

It was hard to argue with Lee’s core assertion that the 20 or 30 people who run the British TV industry have lost touch with beauty and intelligent thought. When you stop watching television, you generally find your life is improved by its absence.

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Lee also cleverly used the comedy of repetition to milk a story about his mother praising the quick-wittedness of comedian Tom O’Connor whom she had seen on a cruise liner. He incessantly reiterated his mum’s words until the audience was in tears of laughter.

Equally strong was Lee’s story of his cancelled BBC2 television series, which led to him having to perform to a conference of entomologists, while clad as a giant insect for no reason and no money.

The only flaw with the show was Lee seemed to have written too many endings, all of which he used. Overall, though, it was beautifully delivered and a joy to watch.