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.
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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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Guest1001, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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World Without End, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk