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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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Stuart, Chortle
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter