So you’ve been touring your new show, If you would prefer a Milder Comedian, Please Ask For One, for a few months now. Are you enjoying the tour?
I’m really enjoying the shows and it is nice to play to people who, after the TV series, have more of an idea what to expect. There are less people coming who want conventional stand-up, so there are less confused and bored people.
Have you yet been asked for a milder comedian whilst on tour?
I haven’t been asked for a milder comedian, but I think a constant diet of Michael McIntyre would be the perfect alternative.
You do a bit in this show on Top Gear which has become quite notorious. Do you find it is a sense of moral injustice which helps drive your comedy?
Well, funny is the main thing, but I am irked by the glibness of Top Gear humour, the lack of responsibility, the softness of the targets, the pungent aroma of playground bullying.
It seemed for ages that you were trying to break into a pseudo-mainstream, or at least achieve a sense of sustainability. Do you think you’ve finally achieved that?
Sustainability is the key word. I don’t want to be famous, or be recognised, or go on panel shows or be in magazines. I just want to do enough for live work to be sustainable until I die, and the TV show has really helped this. I don’t make a loss on live work anymore, but I used to.
Have you been to the revamped Birmingham Town Hall before?
No. I sang there as a choirboy in the mid-70s though, I think. I hope the acoustics aren’t too bouncy.
You’ve had a couple of DVDs recorded in The Stand in Glasgow. Is this one of your favourite venues?
I do like The Stand in Glasgow, and also their Edinburgh venue. Tommy Sheppard has hand-reared a combative but comedy literate audience, free of stags and hens, and it’s the perfect alternative to Jongleurs chains. The Glee in Brum is also good though.
Finally, any news on a second series of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle?
They tell me in January. If not, back on the road with a new show from August next year.
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Chez, Chortle.com
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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John Robins, Comedian
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Idrie, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter