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.
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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John Robins, Comedian
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Bosco239, youtube
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube