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.
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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World Without End, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube