I still die on stage frequently. Last month I could feel the room drifting away during a high-profile big top bill in the Greenwich Comedy Festival, but my worst death of recent years was in August 2009 at a private performance for the Friends and Corporate partners of the Edinburgh Fringe, seated around desert laden tables at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
I headlined with half an hour to total silence. There weren’t even heckles. I don’t think they even got as far as thinking me a bad comedian. I don’t think they believed I was a comedian at all.
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Idrie, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube