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