He might need the time off to calm down. From the outset he was in typically intolerant mode, warning that if he saw any phones turned on they will be smashed “and you can take it up with the police”. He did not carry out his threat but he did briefly wade into the stalls to give someone a mean stare.
This is a show packed with magnificent jokes at the expense of Brexit, Trump, the sex in Game Of Thrones (“Peter Stringfellow’s Lord Of The Rings”) and much more. There is also some self-indulgent guff where he dissects his ongoing routines, though it is very entertaining self-indulgent guff.
He generated considerable mileage out of mocking his membership of the metropolitan liberal elite, N16 branch, too. But as the monologue moved into the second half a deeper theme developed as he yearned for a simpler, less narcissistic, pre-instant gratification age. In his grandparents’ day, he noted, people had to walk miles to find bondage outfits, now they can just click on Amazon.
There is nothing new about creating an exaggerated version of oneself for humorous effect, yet the road-hardened veteran has made this style his own. Every idea is pushed to the limit, from his impression of under-forties on their smartphones, bashing the screens like apes, to adopting an absurd bow-legged stance to satirise fellow stand-up Russell Howard. The result is both intellectually ambitious and clownishly jocular. The comedy world will be a less funny place without this performer at the top of his game.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Funday’schild, youtube.