…the BBC had a third moment of thrilling sanity and balls-finding this week: recommissioning Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle.
Initially axed after the first series, a campaign by Lee’s fans resulted in Vehicle returning for a second series, to the relief of anyone with an interest in modern comedy. Lee doesn’t really tell jokes — something which, ironically, he tells quite a lot of jokes about — but, instead, kind of … jazzes around with language, hitting words, or images, over and over again until their unexpected reappearance on the off-beat (or the anticipation of it returning to the on-beat) forces out a snorty, honking, pig-goose laugh from the viewer. Or maybe that’s just me.
This week’s episode revolved around the word “crisps”, and Lee’s unbearable sibilance on pronouncing it. It’s exactly the kind of single-minded, off-beat, quietly glorious thing that the BBC should be broadcasting. A significant bellwether in the schedules.
Yes, it was a good week for Auntie.
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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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Al Murray, Comedian
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter