Stewart Lee

The Alternative Comedy Experience is a show 'curated' by Stewart Lee to showcase what he considers to be some of the most exciting stand-ups around today. As with most undertakings by Lee, this is in no way meant to pander to the general population. The show features a line-up of stand up comedians, cutting between sections of their material and backstage clips with Lee himself interviewing the acts. The line-up is predictably eclectic, this week featuring Andy Zaltzmann, Glenn Wool, Stephen Carlin, Sam Simmons and Maeve Higgins.

It's unlikely that you'll enjoy every stand up on each show, but the mix of styles and material mean that you are almost certain to find something that you will like, and maybe even discover someone you would not have previously considered. In earlier episodes I've greatly enjoyed Tony Law's routines, having previously discounted him based on certain panel show appearances.

Maeve Higgins was my highlight from this week's show, though, with a fantastically understated routine of ideas for films in which she could play the starring role. It was a real disappointment that her segment was so short, and I hope that we see more of her in next week's final episode. Andy Zaltzman and Glenn Wool were funny as usual, although in entirely different ways. Stephen Carlin seemed to rely too heavily on material derived from Scottish stereotypes, and didn't bring anything new to the table that we have not seen in some form or another before.

Unfortunately I just didn't 'get' Sam Simmons. Certain members of the audience seemed to really enjoy his incoherent rambling and energetic delivery, so I can't fault his appearance; this show is meant to push the boundaries of TV stand up, acting as almost an antithesis to shows like Live at The Apollo (which it directly follows on Comedy Central).

The thing I like most about this show, though, is not the acts, nor is it the short interview sections. It's the realism. Although the show is heavily edited, you really get a feel that it is being thoroughly honest; it's in a proper comedy club (it stresses this at the beginning), the audience are up for it but not overly forgiving, and when jokes don't land they don't leave them on the editing room floor.

This week's new live comedy

Previews of The Lumberjacks, Stewart Lee and David Kay.

Review: Simon Evans, Soho Theatre

Stewart Lee recently wrote an article in the New Statesman about the lack of right wing comedians. I sort-of doubt if Simon Evans is a card-carrying Cameronite, but there is something distinctly conservative about him. Not in a horrible Bernard Manning/Bob Monkhouse way, but in his love of traditional old values.

Stewart Lee: Where are all the right-wing stand-ups?

Yes, Jimmy Carr avoided tax and the BNP loves Al Murray's Pub Landlord, but it's hard to find a comedian who votes Tory.

Top 20 comedy shows in London - April

Featuring Rob Delaney, Stewart Lee, Harry Hill, Gary Delaney, Doctor Brown, Marcel Lucont, Doc Brown, Knock2Bag, Hampstead Comedy Club and loads more...

The Stand announce Fringe programme

The Stand has unveiled its 2013 Edinburgh Fringe programme, with Stewart Lee, Richard Herring and Alexei Sayle among the big names playing the club.

Stewart Lee: Farewell, BBC TV Centre

Having been home to everyone from Roy Castle to Richard Stilgoe, the closure of the BBC TV's old magical headquarters is a sad day for British culture.

Stewart Lee: Who is Kevin Eldon?

Kevin Eldon is described as British comedy's most prolific supporting star - and for the first time, he's got his own show, It's Kevin, starting on BBC Two. Kevin's friend and long time collaborator Stewart Lee introduces who exactly this Kevin Eldon bloke is.

From the moment comedian Bridget Christie announces herself as an ideal woman for Islamic fundamentalists - "I haven't had an education and you can't see me" - the polemical tone of her act is made clear. And she does not fail to deliver, in either sabre-toothed satire on a society that thinks feminism is a dirty word or in above-and-below the belt punches at the violence, abuse and misogyny women experience around the world.

Fellow comedian Fred MacAulay plays all the male and one of the female characters needed to illustrate her points. Her husband gets some revealing shots fired at him, too, but as he is Stewart Lee he can probably handle it.