It was devised by Stewart Lee, and with Simon Munnery stealing the show as acidly grumpy Johnson, the show evokes one of their most artistically successful former collaborations: The League Against Tedium’s Attention Scum.
The arrogantly superior Johnson tosses out savagely cutting put-downs towards the Scottish nation when he returns to present-day Edinburgh to relaunch his travelogue. He’s the ultimate urban sophisticate, a poverty tourist among these miserable Celts who exploits his unhappiness at being away from London in a relentless tirade of brilliantly savage, beautifully aimed gripes.
Edinburgh-born Boswell is his host and scribe – dutifully recording every delightful bon mot and putting up a meek defence of his homeland, which only prompts more delicious bile to pour forth from his friend. The decidedly English Miles Jupp plays this part, and aside from the nationality, provides a perfect humanising foil to Johnson’s biting insults.
‘A full working knowledge of the texts is essential for the enjoyment of this show,’ he intones sombrely at the start. Nonsense, of course, a full, working sense of humour is all you require. The show’s sensibilities are decidedly 21st Century comedy club, rather than 18th Century coffee house, thanks to a knowing, razor-sharp script.
To call it theatre is, perhaps, a little ambitious, even if they have got posh period costumes. Save for a playful recreation of a tempest Boswell describes – and rather differently than Johnson recalls – this is at heart a stand-up double-act, with the pair trading tetchy below-the-belt jibes, until the bullying behind the banter becomes apparent.
But, even then, the gags keep coming. There really is no reprise from the brilliantly funny lines, creating an onslaught even the most savage ocean storm would struggle to match.
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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World Without End, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Idrie, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Stuart, Chortle
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter