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