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.
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, 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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FBC, finalgear.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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World Without End, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Stuart, Chortle
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv