…the BBC had a third moment of thrilling sanity and balls-finding this week: recommissioning Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle.
Initially axed after the first series, a campaign by Lee’s fans resulted in Vehicle returning for a second series, to the relief of anyone with an interest in modern comedy. Lee doesn’t really tell jokes — something which, ironically, he tells quite a lot of jokes about — but, instead, kind of … jazzes around with language, hitting words, or images, over and over again until their unexpected reappearance on the off-beat (or the anticipation of it returning to the on-beat) forces out a snorty, honking, pig-goose laugh from the viewer. Or maybe that’s just me.
This week’s episode revolved around the word “crisps”, and Lee’s unbearable sibilance on pronouncing it. It’s exactly the kind of single-minded, off-beat, quietly glorious thing that the BBC should be broadcasting. A significant bellwether in the schedules.
Yes, it was a good week for Auntie.
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
XPIJONpsY, Twitter
XPIJONpsY, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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World Without End, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Dan McCaid, Twitter
Dan McCaid, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Spursguy, Youtube
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Herald Scotland.
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Funday’schild, youtube.
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Zoot Cadillac, Twitter
Zoot Cadillac, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter