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