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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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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John Robins, Comedian
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Stuart, Chortle
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Jackmumf, 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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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk