Stewart Lee’s Carpet Remnant World has been on the road for months and I am sure it is far from as free-form as it appears.
Lee also makes much use of information that can be gleaned online, from the horrifically explicit and sick reactions of some Americans to the death of Osama Bin Laden to some equally robust criticism of his own comedy.
He gives as good as he gets, it should be admitted, with a bloke called Boyle and the many Russells from his line of work among those in the firing line.
More edgily, a huge amount of his act is devoted to critiquing the reaction of certain sections of the audience with building sarcasm. This is bolder than it sounds in print and becomes increasingly squirmingly hilarious as the set goes on and he deconstructs both his jokes and the reaction to them.
There is a lot of old-school vaudeville about Lee’s schtick: the gentle, in front of the cloth comedy of Morecambe and Wise pushed into brave new dimensions. It is the intelligence that he brings to the mechanics of making people laugh that make it a really fascinating experience.
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Guest1001, 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
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Z-factor, Twitter.
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter