To search for contemporary queens of comedy you need look no further than performers like Victoria Wood, French and Saunders and, of course, the ‘slimline’ Jo Brand. But they follow in the footsteps of some quite special comic ladies, a number of them still raising a laugh today.
The Comediennes (R2, from Thursday, January 19) is a series celebrating the lives of such performers, with archive material which includes interviews and memories of classic sketches.
The first programme focused on Irene Handl, and dealt with her memorable portrayals of cockney characters, as well her work with artists like Peter Sellers.
It was an interesting half hour, though I felt the formula was a little haphazard and unsatisfying. However, there was a vast improvement in the second instalment when the spotlight was turned on Hattie Jacques.
Male, funny and considerably more modern, Lee and Herring are currently causing hilarious havoc on Radio 1 (from Monday, January 9).
This is no ordinary hour of music and chat – in fact Stewart and Richard appear to select records either for their bizarre content or so that they can deliberately label them worthless.
My favourite bits were the outrageous tribute band competition, hapless Peter Baynham’s lifestyle tips and the alternative parable.
It had me laughing out loud.
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Bosco239, youtube
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, 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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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter