Stewart Lee returns for what seems like his 145th Edinburgh show with a ‘work in progress’. Likely to be a different show every night, Lee is showcasing old and new material which he intends to use for an upcoming television project. Because of the format it’s impossible to say what will come up on any given night, but with this old-hand there is always the guarantee of seeing a stand-up who is completely at ease with his material and who promises to have the audience eating out of his hand.
His trademark delivery is slow, considered and uses repetition to dramatic comedic effect – especially, on this night, when he reprises his ‘Del Boy falling through the bar’ routine from last year’s 41st Best Stand Up Ever show. A deconstruction of a record sleeve by a black American comic seems pretty likely to be on the bill throughout the Fringe and builds up beautifully to devastating comedic effect. Ever self-deprecating, Lee takes time to rail against himself as he ventures into well-worn “lazy” observations on Travelodge hotels. Other highlights include a self-penned addition to the modern phenomenon of tragedy literature and definitive material on the much-publicised Fringe box office problems which should make other comics forget about even trying to cover the subject.
The only problem is that going to see any other comedy performer after the mighty Lee feels like switching over to EastEnders after watching a Dennis Potter drama. Simply one of the most mesmerising comedians working today.
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Idrie, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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John Robins, Comedian
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Wharto15, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Stuart, Chortle
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter