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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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Stuart, Chortle
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com