COMPARISONS can be a real problem. We all do it, reviewers particularly.
There’s something in our make-up that makes us compelled to relate one thing to another from the past.
Take Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle on BBC2 last night.
Every preview, every interview has banged on about it being the “new Dave Allen show”. Even Mr Lee has brought up the subject.
And let’s face it, it would never live up to that billing. Dave Allen was a comic genius, an exceptional talent.
But that doesn’t make the new series a failure. Far from it – it’s one of the most welcome new comedy shows for quite some time.
As he proved as half of Lee and Herring, Stewart Lee is a fine, eloquent observer of the banality of modern life.
True, some of the sketches thrown in to break up monologues are a bit hit and miss, but you can forgive the odd duff attempt when there is genuine quality around.
It’s just a shame the hype has been so overblown. It was never going to fulfill such great expectations.
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Stuart, Chortle
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Borathigh5, 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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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Keilloh, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Brighton Argus
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube