The government’s witch-hunters are ready to reform the BBC to death - July 2015 The Observer - By Stewart Lee - July 19th, 2015

Due to its legendary nose for news, last week’s Sunday Times was first to reveal the “eight experts” chosen by culture secretary John Whittingdale to “help decide the BBC’s future”, the Murdoch empire barely able to wait to share its horror at the venerable institution’s latest humiliation. And what a golden shower of talent Whittingdale…

It’s too late to save our world, so enjoy the spectacle of doom - July 2015 The Observer - By Stewart Lee - July 5th, 2015

In the middle of a week of record temperatures, as if unaware of the irony, the business community celebrated the consolidation of its attempts to force the government’s hand to agree to a third filth-generating runway at Heathrow, tipping all species on Earth towards extinction. Everything will die soon, except for cockroaches, and Glastonbury favourite…

A passport to my lovely garden? Dream on, you wretched souls - June 2015 The Observer - By Stewart Lee - June 28th, 2015

Late in my life I have become the owner of a house with a garden. But there are very few gardens in the area of the inner city where I live and naturally my garden has become a focus of envy from the deserving poor. Last Sunday I was in my garden, drinking fine champagne…

Top Gear: can any mortal control this foul, pulsating orifice? - June 2015 The Observer - By Stewart Lee - June 21st, 2015

The Britpop DJ and breakfast television innovator Chris Evans is a brave man. But perhaps he has a suicidal streak. Or maybe, more nobly, he has discovered a belated desire to do some good in the world, as if to atone for the crimes of his past, before walking willingly to his inevitable doom. Like…

Britain’s got talent, but don’t trust these clowns to find it - June 2015 The Observer - By Stewart Lee - June 14th, 2015

Today I took my four-year-old to London zoo, where I am currently appearing as the pre-recorded voice of a spider, Morgan Freeman having proved unavailable. A handler had a snowy owl on his wrist. The bird appeared comfortable with its “as seen in Harry Potter” tag, and was yet to do anything as drastic as…

Fifa, Eurovision, the Baftas… the poison is all around us - June 2015 The Observer - By Stewart Lee - June 7th, 2015

As a tiny child, I fell in love with the pageantry and camaraderie of the Eurovision song contest. But my infant innocence was shattered as early as 1969 when, barely 18 months old, I watched Norway’s Kirsti Sparboe crawl criminally into last place with her swinging slice of Carnaby Street pop Oj, Oj, Oj, Så…