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.
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Bosco239, youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Idrie, Youtube
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk