Stewart Lee – beloved writer, columnist and stand-up – was on the podcast in 2022 talking about the first records he bought, immensely funny and fascinating, and we’ve been praying for an excuse to get him back since. And it’s here! – he’s on tour again and his ‘Basic Lee’ show is on Sky/Now TV on July 20. This covers his first memories of live entertainment – in the audience and as a performer – and the people who influenced him and stops off at the following stations …
… why the Wombles were just like Crass.
… how he writes and tests new material.
… why Ted Chippington inspired his stand-up career.
… television comedy is now “two-screen TV” as the viewer’s always watching something else at the same time.
… how Lockdown made audiences forget how to behave.
… “Comedian In Bum Phone Fury”: how he stopped people filming his gigs.
… deliberately using negative reaction shots in his TV edits.
… improvisation in music and comedy and why every night should be unique.
… the tense protocol of comedians at other comedians’ gigs
…Mark E Smith doing things “out of necessity irrespective of how they were received” and his reaction to seeing Stewart in his audience.
… why festival crowds are a challenge.
… the Drifters, the Applejacks and Napalm Death and how they are related.
… the music playing when his son was born.
… arriving in full early Dexys rig – donkey jacket, woolly hat – to find they were now the “raggle-taggle gypsies”.
… the sole performance of Peter Richardson’s Mexican bandit act.
… Daniel Kitson, “the world’s greatest living stand-up”.
… plus the Nightingales, Chris Spedding, Clem Cattini, Kirk Brandon, the Bevis Frond, Geddy Lee, Throbbing Gristle and Brighton Psych Fest’s Secluded Bronte – “is it music or are they just moving furniture around?”
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com