TV’s Frankie Boyle has declared that no-one over 40 should do stand-up, as the old comedians lose their edge and their anger. Stewart Lee is 42 and Frankie’s heartless Scottish words have made him wonder if it’s worth carrying on.
Undaunted, the furiously baffled comedian tries to win round the legendarily harsh Glasgow audience with a crowd-pleasing Mcintyre-style routine about coffee shops, but is distracted by scores of imaginary pirates; he tries to talk about every day middle aged men’s concerns, but is drawn into a forty minute rant against Top Gear and all it stands for; he attempts to find some common ground with happy childhood memories that he and the audience can share, but is instead consumed with loathing and despair as a result of a Magners’ Cider advertising campaign.
He screams from the balconies, stumbles in the aisles, and ends with a country and western song. If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask For One is a vast and all-consuming epic of stand-up comedy, exploring the absolute formal limits of the art form.
There are also some jokes.
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Chez, Chortle.com
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, 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
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Stuart, Chortle
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John Robins, Comedian
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Brighton Argus
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk