Stewart Lee

Stewart Lee interviewed: "Why I quit stand-up"

Perhaps our greatest living comedian, Stewart Lee talks about why he gave up stand-up, how he hates being told what to feel, the presentation of comedy and that, despite what some hecklers say, he's got more jokes than you can shake your fist at...

BBC One's My Favourite Joke features various comics talking about their favourite comedy moments. It's like a Channel 4 poll but without the public interfering. It is the sort of show you would expect Stewart Lee to make a satirical routine about, and if Del falling through the bar in Only Fools and Horses is picked as one of those moments, no doubt he will.

In the latest episode, the moments chosen were Lee Evans' Bohemian Rhapsody mime; the scene in Rising Damp in which Rigsby uses burning wood to charm Miss Jones; the American comic Sam Kinison ranting against his ex-wife; Lucille Ball on roller skates, and Andre Previn's performance with Morecambe and Wise.

The thing is with these shows is that is tempting to say that they are a waste of airtime, and that it would be better to make an actual show that wasn't just full of clips. People say this all the time, but let's be honest, if they did make a show for that slot the chances are it probably won't be anything decent. It would just probably just be tat.

It's rather like people complaining about there being too many repeats on the BBC. Rubbish! In my view, there's not enough. There is a simple way to tell if there is, namely by looking at the entire schedule and pointing out all the awful TV shows that are out there. Scrap them, try to make some decent new shows in some slots and put some repeats of shows that you know are decent in the others. Look at the recent repeat run of Only Fools on daytime BBC One. It's been getting big ratings. Rather than put on some programme about property development on, just put on Dad's Army. No-one in their right mind would object to that.

Getting back to the show in hand, I suppose the main merit of these shows is that there will be quite a few comedy clips on My Favourite Joke that people in Britain many not have seen before. I've never seen The Lucy Show for example, and the roller skating routine is a very good piece of slapstick. So these shows do sometimes introduce to new experiences, which can only be a good thing.

Stewart Lee patches up differences with McIntyre

Stewart Lee, the comedian who appeared to have offended rival comic Michael McIntyre has moved to patch up differences with his fellow performer.

Stewart Lee's top 5 rants

As the comic genius is once again given something to complain about, we look back at some of his finest and funniest rants.

An interview with Trevor Lock

Trevor Lock is a comedian and playwright whose surreal comedy and collaborations with comedians like Stewart Lee and Russell Brand has earned him a cult following by comedy nerds and non-comedy nerds alike.

DVD review - Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle

Uncompromising, awkward and confrontational style and content cements reputation.

Video: Stewart Lee on music, politics and prostests

Comedian Stewart Lee compared Glastonbury to the House of Commons as he discussed whether music was losing its political message and the power of protest with Andrew Neil, Michael Portillo and Alan Johnson.

Stewart Lee interview

He divides audiences like no other comedian, his fans hanging on every word of his rambling monologues, his critics raging at the lack of laughs. Stewart Lee explains his pleasure at being hated - and why he doesn't do 'jokes'.

Stewart Lee is wrong about the internet killing comedy

By railing against the tyranny of tweets the comedian has dismissed an alternative universe of wonderfully weird humour.

The last of Stewart Lee's virtuoso stand-up performances - except for the second time this series, he's actually sitting down. Tonight the sardonic comic tells a tall tale about meeting a young David Cameron at Oxford in the mid-Eighties. Lee sums up the coalition government thus: "Despite being bred for power, Cameron was only able to get it by hooking up with Nick Clegg. It's like a foxhound that's only able to catch foxes with the assistance of a chihuahua." Recommission please, BBC.