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