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