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