It’s a lie, of course. The deadpan comic would have you believe his Carpet Remnant World show is nothing more than a collection of off-cuts but, as ever, he’s put together fresh material that’s lapped up by his growing number of fans.
He’s quick to mock his increasing popularity – buoyed by his BBC Comedy Vehicle show and his status as the darling of broadsheet critics - poking fun at ‘new fans’ he claims not to want and distancing himself from the funnymen who’ve become household names thanks to TV exposure.
“The Russells” , Michael McIntyre and Frankie Boyle are put to the sword, although anyone who’s seen Lee’s last couple of tours will already be familiar with his disdain for the commercialisation of stand-up. Perhaps it’s a theme that’s becoming a little too well worn.
But the “Us and Them” stance is central to his whole performance as he willfully tests his audience’s patience – making them work for the laughs – by stretching parts of his routine to breaking point before expertly reeling them back in, just because he can.
Like a master magician who now reveals his secrets, he breaks down the art of stand-up, bit by bit, as a way of making us acutely aware of what we’re laughing at and, crucially, why we’re actually laughing at all.
Noted for his dry delivery, and dripping with irony, he somehow takes us through a surreal world of Scooby Doo cartoons and zombie pirates, mixed together with riffs on Al Qaeda, Maggie Thatcher and those who peddle lazy observational comedy for the masses.
Split into two parts, the show stretches past the two-hour mark (although it seems to race by faster) with much of the material hitting home. He’s not afraid to poke fun at himself – and his reputation for being smug and superior – by collecting together a number of outrageous online insults before it all ends on a ridiculous and ultimately uplifting tale that gives the show its name.
He might have told us he had no jokes, but that didn’t stop him skillfully weaving together another fantastic show that fits the room perfectly.
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, 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
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com