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