In many ways stand-up comedy is as much a science as it is an art. Jokes can be constructed in a careful, thoughtful manner, each word and pause placed in just the right place to generate the maximum amount of humour. And in that area of comedy, Lee has no equal. He’s a true master of the form. Some may say his stretching out of a 20-second anecdote into a ten-minute routine, but the fact that in the course of that routine Lee repeats said anecdote over ten times, getting a laugh for each, turns it into something of a lesson on comedy itself, and how to eek every last bit of humour out of a short and simple tale. It’s just an absolute joy to watch him work, and any new or aspiring comics should go and see this show as soon as possible as it will teach you ten times what any workshop, book or lecture ever will. For the rest of us just wanting something funny, Lee doesn’t disappoint, though if you want to avoid disappointing him you may wish to research 80s Marvel Comics character The Watcher before attending.
Some of the subjects he touches on would likely be considered hack or cliched if performed by any other comic: do we really need another lecture on the declining standards of TV and the Big Brother racism row? Well, yes, we do actually. As TV is still getting worse and worse and Big Brother is a huge part of why that’s happening. Plus Lee’s ideas might not actually be original but his presentation of them far surpasses any other comics who have tackled such issues.
To top it all Lee even talks a little about his family and his personal life, an issue not really tackled in his stand-up before, and it adds an interesting relatable human factor to his stage persona, giving a brief glimpse at the man behind the ‘mask’ and his motivation for doing what he does.
Simply one of the best shows of The Fringe.
Number of arbitrary things out of things for people who can’t be bothered reading the review: 5/5
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, 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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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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World Without End, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Bosco239, youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk