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