Throughout this hour-long set, Mr. Lee barely breaks a sweat. Not because he’s coasting or re-treading well-worn turf, but because his manner is all about cool delivery: the wry one liner, the well placed…pause. Lee is a master of the form, and while the biggest laugh of the night might come from his use of a four letter word to describe Richard Littlejohn, this is nonetheless comedy at its most intelligent.
Lee is not afraid of dealing with sensitive issues like race and religion. They are conjured and discussed with such deft precision that the audience are never in doubt of his impeccable liberal credentials (‘I wouldn’t want anyone thinking I’m racist’ he says, ‘that’s Al Murray’s job’). He has the knack to stretch a joke to breaking point; his opening tirade (too strong a term, perhaps, for a performer so painfully laconic) against 80’s comedian Tom O’Connor is a masterclass in audience bating.
Repetition for repetition’s sake would be agony – this is repetition elevated to art form. Scathing, unabashed and profoundly self-deprecating, Lee is a performer whose material so often transcends the mark that his lack of astronomical fame is unbelievable. His deadpan demeanour may be as much a pose as the tired lad-isms of Russell Brand et al., but his style is so far beyond his rivals that it almost seems a quibble.
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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World Without End, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Idrie, Youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Shit Crit, 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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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter