I’d given up on ever again finding stand-up on TV funny, so Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle didn’t arouse antic expectations. But actually it is properly funny, and what makes him funny is instructive. He plays a character. It’s not him, it’s a performance. He’s not just a spooky, needy fat man telling jokes; Lee’s character is a spooky, needy fat man, a metropolitan socialist with a bucket of self-loathing, insecurity, thin skin and well-deserved doubts, telling jokes. He is a Corbynista Tony Hancock, and it’s a good creation, delivered with astute vehemence.
Lee points out that comedy has made him a member of the middle class, where he is hated, and you know this is an act because, in real life, Lee went to a public school — he was a contemporary of Richard Hammond, whom he once hilariously wished was dead — and then to Oxford; and he writes musicals. His mockable working- class persona is tee-hee gold. If you regret the passing of really whiny political humour and wondered who on earth was going to pick up the jester’s cap, look no further.
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Brighton Argus
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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