The most interesting point Stewart Lee makes in the third episode of his current series, subtitled ‘Patriotism’, comes at the start when he talks about the biggest problem the modern satirist faces. The news is in such flux, says Lee, it is hard to get a handle on it for comedy. And if Lee is having that problem, spare a thought for lesser mortals out there trying to monetize their social commentary.
Lee points to UKIP as a prime example of the rapidly changing face of the political landscape. When he started work on this series pre-2015 general election, they posed a credible threat to the established order, but things didn’t pan out quite as they hoped.
Likewise Lee doesn’t mention Donald Trump’s rise in this episode, which was recorded a while ago. Maybe that will be redressed in the future. Though in fairness here he concentrates on the unpredictability of British politics. As he wryly observes, not even the wittiest minds in the land saw the David Cameron/”Dead Pig Sex Face” allegations coming. Not one comedian predicted that turn of events. Shame on them.
The main meat of the episode was a story linking Jeremy Corbyn, Lee’s cat and the media’s insatiable habit of not letting the facts get in the way of a good bit of clickbait. He neatly pushed a scatalogical image to the absolute limit and then beyond. It was filthy but funny. He had a pithy routine about naming a pet dog after Matthew “Inspector Gadget” Broderick and his description of Downton Abbey as “thinly veiled Conservative propaganda” felt spot on.
As with last week this episode closed on a sketch commenting on what Lee had been talking about. It’s more of an old school mash-up here, slightly in the style of Cassetteboy, with visual images cut together. It was initially impressive but outstayed its welcome in a way that Lee’s verbal riffs never seem to. A good episode with subversive laughs splattered all over it but not quite up to the high standard Lee has set himself. Then again as he said at the start, satire these days is not easy.
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Danazawa, Youtube
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter