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.
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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John Robins, Comedian
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk