Stewart Lee’s 2012 Fringe kicked off in typically provocative vein, when his Guardian article (headlined ‘The Slow Death of the Edinburgh Fringe’) delivered an industry-savvy knee to the groin of corporate comedy promoters. While PRs dealt with the aftermath from his wrath, the 25-time Fringe veteran holds court this year at the chandeliered, revamped Assembly Rooms.
Insider knowledge of the comedy game is only one card up Lee’s sleeve. There’s also his signature self-aware, deconstruction tactic, employed with grade-A mastery here. ‘I mean the opposite of what I just said,’ he condescends after a sarcastic aside. When laughs don’t arrive fast enough, he deadpans, a twinkle in his eye: ‘you’re gonna have to up your game’.
Pedantry, semantics, current affairs and affectionate disdain feature too in a show about his supposed lack of a show, due to fatherhood and being ‘creatively spent’. Although the last 15 minutes genuinely sag, making it seem like the biter has bit himself in the bum, the ploy is clever and the good bits still stomach-hurtingly funny.
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Al Murray, Comedian
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Bosco239, youtube
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Stuart, Chortle
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Idrie, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter