Stewart Lee

Stewart Lee interview

Known for his acerbic wit, 46-year-old writer, comedian, director, producer and musician Stewart Lee lives in London with his wife, fellow comedian Bridget Christie, and their two children.

News: Daniel Kitson plays major benefit gig

Daniel Kitson is to compere a major London benefit gig in aid of a charity fighting homelessness among young people. The gig will take place at the Palace Theatre on October 6. Also appearing are Stewart Lee, Katherine Ryan and Josh Widdicombe. The charity they are suppprting is Laughing Point, a fundraiser in aid of leading youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.

Stewart Lee & Richard Herring: how we made Fist of Fun

Richard Herring: 'We got a lot of saucy letters. And someone even sent in a Brian May made out of liquorice'.

Review: Stewart Lee on Kevin Eldon's new book

'An opinionated, ignorant, and largely talentless intellectual snob'

Stewart Lee: I'm finding it very, very hard to be funny

"Don't those responsible for atrocities understand I have deadlines to meet?" Stewart Lee on why stand-up is the world's hardest job.

Best comedy to see from Stewart Lee to Josie Long

A selection of some of the best acts at this year's Fringe.

Stewart Lee's Alternative Comedy Experience offers 25 minutes of understated joy over on Comedy Central. Now three episodes into its second series, it's a grottier, grimier Live At The Apollo, without the necessary blockbuster blandness of John Bishop or Michael McIntyre.

Lee talks to comedians about their comedy - more interesting than it sounds, because of the calibre of people involved - which is then interspersed with short excerpts from stand-up sets, filmed at Edinburgh's tiny pub-like venue The Stand, giving it a brilliantly raucous, ramshackle feel.

Tuesday's episode saw Susan Calman, Josie Long, Kevin Eldon and David O'Doherty performing, with O'Doherty - a particular delight. If you've ever wondered how someone can do witty nostalgia about long-dead technology without sounding like a Buzzfeed list, then track O'Doherty's set down as a matter of urgency.

Radio Times review

What does it take to get up in front of a crowd of strangers and try to make them laugh? Getting over "the fear" is one of the toughest parts of being a stand-up, but this line-up all manage it with aplomb. From Susan Calman's sparkly enthusiasm to Josie Long's aw-gosh awkwardness to Kevin Eldon's utter mania, each has his or her own coping technique.

The material is brilliant, but so too are Stewart Lee's backstage interviews. Unguarded and perceptive, they show how hard it is to make comedy look effortless. Keep watching through the credits for some insight into whether Dutch courage or a full roast dinner is better at steadying the nerves.

5 shows Stewart Lee could do next (but probably won't)

In light of Lee's growing fondness for wordplay-based titles, we've done a bit of speculating, and come up with five Stewart Lee shows we may (...or may not) see in the future.

Radio Times review

Analysing comedy, according to the cliché, is like dissecting a frog: no one laughs and the frog dies. One thing that distinguishes comedians from television critics is that they are above using clichés. Another is that they can talk about the craft with authority, and make it funny, too.

This episode of the excellent stand-up showcase gets into the nitty-gritty of how comedy works: compering, writing new jokes, getting over "the fear" and trying to make strangers laugh. From Susan Calman's sparkly enthusiasm to Josie Long's awsh-gosh awkwardness to Kevin Eldon's utter mania, each has their own technique. The material is brilliant, but so too are Stewart Lee's backstage interviews. Keep watching through the credits for the answer to whether you should drink before stepping on stage.