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