Though I’m personally invited to drop a star by Lee tonight, I’ll resist the temptation. This rating comes with a caveat, however. The ursine comic’s often sublime shtick (here ranging over politics, race and age) still requires those allergic to alienating repetition, knowing deconstruction and long-game subversion to deal with that, albeit to a lesser extent than before.
Shakespeare, assured my English teacher, always supplied a direct hit even in his most involved passages. So it is with fellow West Midlander Lee, who can despatch his targets with caustic brevity: “You have to have imagination on the left… to look at Ed Miliband and imagine that he represents anything other than the destruction of the post-war socialist dream.”
For UKIP deputy leader, Paul Nuttall, there is more trademark, and therefore more elaborate, rebuff. Lee takes Nuttall’s view that Bulgaria should retain its high achievers to a nihilistic conclusion, reaching it via a backwards chronological rundown of immigration that includes the evolution of fish to land animals.
The mix of pathos and playfulness is heightened in a closing sequence where Lee puffs himself up only to puncture his ego and portrays himself as a burnt out performer, berated by his family who apply their own ‘dropped star’ rating to him.
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Etienne, Chortle.com
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Joycey, readytogo.net
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
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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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Funday’schild, youtube.
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk