Stewart Lee explains to Lynne Brighouse why he believes that older comedians are the best and improve with age.

COMEDIAN Stewart Lee is renowned for not shying away from controversial subjects or statements.

His CV includes co-writing and co-directing the mock Broadway hit Jerry Springer: The Opera, which famously sparked off numerous protest demonstrations by Christian Voice, as well as naming his TV and Edinburgh Festival shows If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask for One.

His satirical humour has, at times, pushed so hard against the conventional boundaries of acceptability that voices have been raised in protest and offense. But Stewart says his satirical twist is often misinterpreted and he aims for intelligent comedy, rather than lots of throwaway laughs or controversy.

He says: “I don’t hide away from delivering the difficult jokes or experimenting with different styles of humour even if it isn’t always appreciated by all.”

Stewart’s present stand-up act deals with six main themes, which he alternates from venue to venue.

At Derby he plans to explore the ins-and-outs of UKIP, the institute of marriage, and take a wry look at the internet and pornography.

“I will also be taking a humorous look at politics and society, plus there will be some lighter stupid stuff as well,” he says.

“I am surprised that there isn’t more political comedy around at the moment though. There is so much material to work with.”

Stewart was delighted to see comedian Alexei Sayle back on the comedy circuit last year with an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a subsequent UK tour.

He says: “It was great to hear his caustic political humour again and I think some of the young comics could learn a lot from him.

“He is even better now than when he was younger – it feels like we are dealing more directly with the man rather than stage persona plus Alexi is out there proving that the older you are, the better you can get.”

“There is a myth in the industry that comedians only have three or four years and then your career is over. It is a shame – maturity often suits comedy well as you are coming from a more informed place.

“Younger comedians can often seem petulant, whereas Alexei has decades of experience and being ground down by the system to draw on, so his comedy comes from a more authoritative place. He is standing in a more privileged position to say something meaningful.”

Stewart concedes that comics’ routines are often determined by their age and life circumstances.

He says: “You do tend to draw on your own experiences and if you have children and no longer spend all your evenings staying out late, your inspiration changes. We traditionally use humour to cope with the dilemmas and uncertainties of life – sharing helps people to realise it is a common experience.”

Although Stewart has veered off in many different directions over the years, working as a journalist and writing comedy scripts, he now envisages doing stand-up for the rest of his career.

“I think live comedy has got a real future,” he says. “I do enjoy having the opportunity to stand up and say something about life and share my observations, plus I am a self-confessed control freak and it’s one way to have total control over my material.”

WHAT: Stewart Lee
WHERE: Derby Assembly Rooms
WHEN: Thursday, January 30