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