Stewart Lee

Baconface leaves a bad taste

On Thursday, Stewart Lee's open contempt for his own audiences, which I had previously assumed was concocted (or at least heightened) for comic effect, reached its grim logical conclusion. Not only did he sack off the whole gig on impulse, he made us feel like we were to blame, not him.

Baconface - an in-joke for Stewart Lee devotees

The first thing you should know about Baconface - this burly, meaty veteran of the Canadian alternative comedy scene - is that he and the UK's own Stewart Lee will never be seen in the same room.

Stewart Lee returns and Will Adamsdale put his back out

The 'saint of division and dissent' is back in town with a new show, Much A-Stew About Nothing, but audiences will have to wait for their latest sighting of the 2004 Perrier award winner Adamsdale, who is presumably in agony.

"Colindale."

"Umm, de-de-de-dum-deh ..... Ealing Broadway."

"Ohh, ohh, ohh, ooohh."

"Yesss."

"Oh, hold up, hold up."

"No, no, no, no, it's the western approach, it's wide open there now."

"Yes."

"Barons Court short."

"Nice."

"Queensway"

"Yeahh."

"Can he do that?"

He surely can. This, ladies and gents of the non-I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue-listening order, is from a transcript of a charming game on the Radio 4 show, entitled "Mornington Crescent".

Charming, that is, for anyone who grew up listening to it with mummy and daddy and fell about to its whimsy; because if you come to it late and are trying to work out the rules, you'll be stymied: there are none. The players simply name stations on the Tube until one utters the Northern Line's least exciting stop. The skill comes in making it seem as though it's a game of strategy. Ha, and indeed, ha.

Now, the best of "middle-class humour", as diverse and hard to pinpoint as that might be, is fantastic. Michael McIntyre's observations are as smooth as Stewart Lee's battering of the mass market is acerbic. But this sort of "if you're not in the club, we're not telling you how to join" nonsense in the name of comedy flies in the very face of middle-class politeness.

Not that we care - never wanted to join your stupid club anyway.

*Walks off in huff*

Deansblog #1 - Stewart Lee is Fringe's biggest threat

It wouldn't be Edinburgh without Harry Deansway (above) writing an article that gets the whole industry talking. Last year it was the BBC syphoning off tickets from the Fringe with their atmosphereless marquee filled with free comedy and backed by thousands of pounds of marketing money. What could it be this year?

Edinburgh comedy shows - critic's choice

A familiar face from TV hits such as Twenty Twelve and Stand up for the Week, Pascoe has finally found her own voice after resembling a laboratory-created hybrid of Stewart Lee and Sarah Silverman. Always interesting, always philosophical, this could be her breakthrough year.

Should stand-up comedians write all their own jokes?

Stewart Lee thinks they should. But plenty of other top comedians are happy to pay writers to come up with gags.

Stephen Carlin: how his gambling addiction inspired him

The Airdrie-born performer, rated by Stewart Lee in his all-time Top Ten stand-up list, reveals he was once a semi-professional gambler. In fact, he became so hooked on betting he was just one bounced cheque away from becoming homeless.

Stewart Lee: The elite have 'stitched up' comedy

British comedy has undergone an elitist 'stitch-up', with poorer performers being 'priced out' of success, Stewart Lee has claimed.

Stewart Lee describes first encounter with Baconface

Cult Canadian comic Baconface is set to sizzle at the Fringe. Stewart Lee recalls seeing this stand-up giant in 1986 and pays tribute to a man he robbed.