***** Fest, August 2005

Stewart Lee's in Edinburgh this year to see how much we can take. And we've made him do it. The creator of the controversial Jerry Springer: The Opera has, he informs us, had a rough year. But he's come out fighting; if we're going to condemn him as Britain's biggest blasphemer then he's going to run with it.

He does want to talk about other stuff (there's a thing or two about the London bombings he's keen to get off his chest as well as some stuff about his illness this year) but by the time he's done with you you'll realise that this was just his way of easing you in for the main event. Because it's definitely Jesus who ends up coming in for most stick.

And he's relentless in finding new and exciting ways to demonstrate exactly how un-Christian he can be. Sure it's sensationalist, but this is a smart comic genuinely bemused by the vehemence of criticism he's had slung at him. It is immediately obvious that Lee is on a completely different plane to most of his contemporaries; he's a class act, completely engaging and clearly relishing the chance to play with his audience.
The way he sees it, he's damned if he's not going to have a bit of fun with it all.
In fact, it seems he's just damned full-stop.