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