He spent a lot of the first half of his show Content Provider, which is nearing the end of its 18- month tour, lamenting the fact that only a small section of the audience got his jokes, the venue was half empty, and he got a better reception in King’s Lynn.
While he may not have got as big a laugh for some of the jokes as expected, which resulted in him painstakingly dissecting it to explain its intended humour, this grumpy demeanour is all part of the act.
With his material ranging from Brexit and Game of Thrones to bondage in the 1930s and annoying under 40s who drink yogurts from pouches for breakfast, it was varied, original and clever.
Whereas the first half felt like a diatribe against the world, including us fans, with plenty of ad-libbing, the second part felt calmer and more storytelling in its nature, less bothered about how much laugh each joke received.
However the reason he wins so many industry accolades is that it is very much crafted – as if his shows are presented for a study on how comedy should be done.
There are few comedians this gifted on the circuit, so please come back to Ipswich again. Your like-minded out of touch metropolitan liberal elite need you.
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Meninblack, Twitter
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Contrapuntal, Twitter