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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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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World Without End, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter