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