How many stars to give Stewart Lee?
‘Whatever you decide, dock one off,’ he says teasingly to the critics in the room, ‘this is only going to get worse.’
Of course, you can ignore that: Lee remains one of the best stand-ups in the country and he knows it, which is why, even though he is technically branding this a ‘work in progress’ – you get three out of a potential six half-hour routines in preparation for his next stand-up series on BBC2 – he remains in polished, energising form.
Part of the thrill of seeing Lee – beyond his usual biting lines, fourth wall-breaking deconstruction of his own sets and shrewd micromanagement of his audience – is seeing how he switches between genuine sincerity and absurd parody in a heartbeat.
In that regard, there’s much to relish in his unforgettable routine about Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall, as he applies Nuttall’s logic on the subject of the possible influx of Bulgarians into Britain (to précis: ‘The most qualified ones would be better off staying and helping Bulgaria, rather than serving tea and coffee here’) to the history of evolution.
Elsewhere, he describes the 1980s in two sentences, offers up a hilariously vivid gag involving Ben Fogle’s attic as part of an explanation of satire, and has a boozy, emasculating, existential crisis, the only chunk that veers us away from politics.
So there we have it. Get tickets now if you want to get in before Christmas – then add on your own star accordingly.
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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John Robins, Comedian
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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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Keilloh, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Bosco239, youtube
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Mearecate, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Stuart, Chortle
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com