Comedy comperes are meant to be unobtrusive, there to heat up the crowd and hype up the talent, not upstage it. The rule book flies away though when Daniel Kitson is MC, as was the case at last night’s fundraiser for radio station Resonance FM.
Most guests were good but the award-winning Yorkshireman made the mightiest impact.
Opener Terry Saunders was so subdued that he was barely there.
His anecdote about temporarily retiring from comedy maybe explained why he seemed amiably rusty. Nathan Penlington’s tantalising tale of discovering a stranger’s diary full of references to bullying, skiving and unrequited love required a better pay-off. Tony Law’s enjoyable surrealism has always reminded me of Harry Hill and his impressive new beard does not quite change that.
Kitson’s improvised contributions, self-deprecating yet arrogant, underlined his verbal versatility. He effortlessly teased the audience, taunted fellow acts and boasted about his new pool table while bemoaning his existential loneliness.
Only Stewart Lee was a match. Lee was testing material for his new show so it would be unfair to review him now. Needless to say he looks like remaining in stand-up’s Premiership. Kitson, however, remains in a league of his own.
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Bosco239, youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Idrie, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Stuart, Chortle
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net