Comedian Stewart Lee on manners in comedy and politics

Comedian Stewart Lee tells Andrew Neil why he is polite to people he does not agree with, although he previously said he did not want to appear on TV and have to meet people he does not like.
Liz Kendall and Michael Portillo joined in the This Week debate on politicians having to deal with, and be polite to, people who are not on their side.

[@CORIOLANVS]

politeness i appreciate but in the end i prefer that people give it to me straight like a pear cider that‘s made from 100% pears.

[@zorantaylor3190]

"I walk out onto these stages every night.....through a forest of pears." -The Comedian Stewart Lee

[@77777aol]

CORIO LANVS : Better that than pear shaped.

[@MaxSafeheaD]

Not so much then, like the Mallard? 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@MrBaronCabron]

It's pear. One big pear.

[@UltimaPowers]

Is it me or did that routine kill Mark Watson's career? Not seen hide nor hair of him since.

[@timeandspace_3.142]

Andrew Neil interviewing Stuart Lee in the presence of Micheal Portillo is as refreshing as a pear cider made from 100% pears.

[@weswheel4834]

Certainly 0% disappointment.

[@martinlaver007]

I got the ref. GG

[@weswheel4834]

@@martinlaver007 Was that sarcasm?

[@martinlaver007]

@@weswheel4834 I’m going to give it you straight…

[@weswheel4834]

@@martinlaver007 okay, I'll give you that :D

[@20thCenturyPox]

Stewart Lee laughs more than The Comedian Stewart Lee. And he's more tolerant of Establishment goons. The Comedian Stewart Lee would never have played their game the way Stewart Lee did. Stewart Lee just seems too pleased to be hanging out with the metropolitan liberal elite. I'd love to know what The Comedian Stewart Lee makes of it.

[@neilwilson5785]

metropolitan liberal elite - I just pasted it. You have a lovely fist icon, but are outdated and boring. Hwever, maybe interesting. 2017 is a challenge.

[@sibionic]

god that's annoying.

[@DomKane]

The Comedian Stewart Lee has let himself go.

[@davidbeckett3345]

Comedian ? Ha !

[@foxybingo1112]

20thCenturyPox I wouldn't exactly call Andrew Neill and Michael Portillo part of the liberal elite

[@JamieCurrant]

And in the end, it was Andrew Neil that truly let himself go

[@alanbeckett4]

Andrew Neil let GB News go....

[@mollers92]

lol at andrew neil talking about echo chambers... hello GB news then

[@furbs9999]

Chunk from the goonies has sorted him self out quite well.

[@19grand]

Give it us straight...

[@christophercooper6731]

@@19grand like Magner's Pear Cider?

[@MasterLocast]

I think you’ll find it’s Magner, not Magner’s.

[@christophercooper6731]

@@MasterLocast I think you'll find this link annoying and frustrating. I think you'll find another fault in what I wrote; if not, I think you'll find the menu item that says 'delete'. www.magners.com/lda/

[@MasterLocast]

I think you’ll find... That’s not their real website. I think you’ll also find: There is no offering in either the genuine Magner or the faked, incorrect Magners beverage menus called delete.

[@teece99]

Bloody hell I just saw this and I thought K.D. Lang has let herself go.

[@bigtombowski]

And that's just Michael Portillo

[@GuusJanssen]

I live in a Spanish cave too. But I had it transported to the Netherlands were I live, but I still refer to it as my Spanish cave.

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

Kurt Waldheim's 106-year-old cockatoo, "Panzerblitz", has let himself go

[@LordmonkeyTRM]

Stewart Lee is a wonderful human being

[@MightyJonE]

It’s Stewart Lee....you’ve seen him, Stewart Lee....you’ve seen him on the telly....you’ve seen him....Stewart Lee, on the telly and the KZbins....you’ve seen him...on the telly and the KZbins, down by the corn exchange, you’ve seen him...

[@mizofan]

KZbin is such a polite site. I've perused it regularly over the years and hardly ever come across any insults or gross language. It really is heart-warming and commendable; well done, all you enlightened youtube users who would never use anonymity and safe distance to abuse strangers, nor sarcasm either since that is a low form of "wit". Compare that with politicians in the old days- Nye Bevan said "Tories are lower than vermin". Disgraceful. Fortunately we are much more civilised nowadays.

No Tories are still lower than vermin.

[@danyoutube7491]

None of them at all? I suppose it's hard to be certain about hyperbolic and subjective classifications. I mean, some people might have difficulty deciding just how strongly they feel about vermin, and whether they view politicians with more contempt and disapproval than vermin, while others might not dislike vermin at all despite them being by definition small animals that can be harmful and difficult to control. Still others will not have strong negative views on politicians. It's all very difficult because the original comparison is quite ill defined; any vermin in particular, in what way 'lower'. etc. Still, I appreciate your conviction in defending the reputation of Tories.

[@ProjectFlashlight612]

mizofan Ooooh, somebody's been studying sarcasm at night school. Calm down and have a Jaffa cake, ducky.

[@TheCasualObservers]

Go f**k yourself

@Colin Cleveland Your pitiful cowering fear is noted little man. What a tired weak shade you are. Tories are lower than vermin and that's no joke.

[@jeffstone2136]

Tethys, the 16th largest moon in our Solar System, has seriously let itself go.

[@dmoney9285]

Love Stew, such a genuine, intelligent, funny and interesting bloke

[@Dermot2927]

You've let yourself go.

[@johngalantini6910]

Check out some of the podcasts he's appeared on as a guest. To hear him talking about the origins of alternative comedy, what the comedy scene was like in the late 80s and 90s, or even to hear his thoughts on the current state of the industry, is always absolutely fascinating. The video where he talks at Oxford Brookes is also well worth a watch.

[@georgeyoung9166]

Genuine, intelligent, funny and interesting sure. But he should still be locked up for war crimes in the Bosnian-Serb war.

[@johngalantini6910]

He's recently grown a big grey beard. Have a look at the Oxford Mail website and search for stewart lee for a photo. The only reason he's done this is to put the war crimes behind him and instead focus on a Rolf Harris tribute.

[@incurableromantic4006]

Literally all he ever does is scream swear words and torture fantasies about people who dare to have different opinions to him. It's the kind of comedy that appeals to. . . . . . ."well", Guardian readers.

[@georgemills-burrows7052]

Michael Portillo has let himself go.

[@MichaelMentessi]

Nwah Nerevar practically impossible to follow mirror match

[@Martin-xd4jl]

...wow. It's extremely odd watching this after Andrew Neil sold out to create the exact kind of political echo chamber that he's talking about here. He's always been very right-wing, but I kind of forgot that there was a point where he was a relatively normal person.

[@bigtombowski]

He gave us our Shapiro moment. Let him live in infamy

[@ChrisLee-yr7tz]

you mean after he was axed by the beeb?

[@shughy1]

You got him all wrong. He was axed because of identity politics so it's no wonder he would want to kick back, that doesn't make him some extremist, just standing up for himself and wanting to be treated equally.

[@stephenmurray2851]

@@shughy1 These people are arrogant and pompous. Just ignore them

[@johnmartinez7440]

@@stephenmurray2851 In what way? Is their assessment of Neil's hypocrisy not correct?

[@tehf00n]

Be polite by default. But if someone doesn't deserve it because of their actions, reserve your politeness for those who deserve it.

[@macbelfast5891]

Nigel Kennedy has really let himself go

[@leoodonnell5895]

the hypocrisy of andrew neil bemoaning echo chambers now that he's been part of GB news is insane

[@johnmartinez7440]

"but echo chambers!!" was a lazy argument from right-wing critics to mock the left. Sort of a smug "Well actually, I enjoy and research both sides of the debate because I Am Very Smart".

[@kimholland9316]

I miss this program.

[@Dermot2927]

People who tell "has let himself or herself go" jokes have let themselves go.

[@roberth1322]

I've let myself go on KZbin to respond to your comment. You can't stop me now, mother!!!

[@yetidodger6650]

I hated Thatcher and her government with the very essence of say being, but I saw Micheal outside Christies in London and said hello and he was a throughly pleasant chap.

[@SamHarrisonMusic]

I remember Liz Kendall being incredibly rude, but maybe that's me...

[@DCI-Frank-Burnside]

A jocular pineapple has let itself go!

[@rahulkemp8347]

ha! u nonce!

[@WalterLiddy]

I'm looking forward to his new act - I'm very concerned about those same issues. It'll be nice to see them spoken of intelligently, and humorously.

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

My god, 5 years on your comment is completely accurate. Saw him in Cheltenham a few weeks ago and he is right in the thick of it on contemporary issues

[@lennoxmate4064]

I don’t like Stewart Lee’s politics but I think he’s a brilliant comedian.

[@MrBaronCabron]

Absolutely the same. He's my favourite comedian by far.

[@Richard-zp3ok]

I dont like his politics or his comedy. But i think hes an ok bloke

[@mattmorris2867]

Oh thanks so much for letting me know.

[@lennoxmate4064]

@@mattmorris2867 Oh . . . 0121 . . . do one . . . you back and front

[@mattmorris2867]

@@lennoxmate4064 I don’t know what I would have done.

[@apolloc.vermouth5672]

Of all the 'has-let-himself-gos' the Terry Christian one edges it here

[@asliceofry8735]

Andrew Neil has let himself go

[@TheKamikazenaz]

Says Andrew "GB NEWS" Neil... didn't last long though 😂😂😂

[@stephensmith799]

The algorithm has really let itself go.

[@VanceRefrigeration]

He was great in This is England

[@billkosses3808]

Isn't Andrew Neil going to be fronting new media "echo chamber" GB News? 😂

[@peterclarke7240]

I was thinking exactly the same thing... But then I checked my particular online metropolitan Liberal elite echo chamber and saw he was taking a break after just two weeks, and that viewership is already tanking, so I got to feel all smugly Liberal and patronisingly elite at his expense. Which was nice.

[@barrydduggan]

Nick Faldo has let himself go.

[@leftmono1016]

Whereas Fanny appears to have lost a few pounds.

[@toastingbread]

Liz Kendall has let himself go

[@phatpolofish]

General Ratko Mladić has let himself go

[@jedaaa]

perhaps his dubious past has led him to comfort eating

[@AA-hg5fk]

I was a bit annoyed to see the BBC giving Mladic a platform.

[@getheroutofthetruck]

A tomato has let itself go.

[@Dimlien]

This is the first one that's really made me laugh out loud in ages. Well done!

[@mizofan]

What is that on the right at 3:23? A red pepper?

[@Wubslin]

I would love to see Stew and Alex Jones in a fist-fight.

[@mizofan]

Oh I liked Jones when he was young; he was quite a sweet treble when he was singing I'm walking in the air. Has he gone all right wing or something? I did see him in a property programme; a shame if so. But come to think of it, he has put on weight too, and looks like he has let himself go. Is it cos they're both overweight you want to see them fighting? They're similar ages, Jones a couple of years younger, I see. It could be quite a close fight, hard to call.

[@mizofan]

Silly me, I got muddled. Why would you want Stewart Lee to fight a pretty Welsh TV presenter? She seems quite friendly to me. Lee wouldn't punch her, would he? I know these lefties are usually aggressive, but that would be too much. Or have you got something against the Welsh, first a boy treble, now a female presenter?

[@MacIntoshMann]

i love stew but he’d get demolished in physical confrontation vs alex jones

[@padraigcronin1172]

Is there a definitive list of people-who-have-let-themselves-go-to-whom-Stewart-Lee-bears-a-resemblance?

[@MrBrutal33]

He himself has a list...I'll see if I can dig it out!

[@vlnow]

Not sure, but 'Susan Boyle' is one of my favorites. Morrisey is a good one too. I think Terry Christian was the first one.

[@sese182]

Diane Abbot has let herself go.

[@stevegoody3744]

At 3.23 one of the most beautiful noises I have ever heard on you tube

[@thetruth156real3]

Portillo, “ Seeing as I was a complete twat as a politician and ruined this Country I was very surprised how polite people were.” That’s what he meant to say.

[@dzonbrodi514]

Yeah classic case of someone who became fair minded and open hearted *after* he had stopped being a hateful bigot professionally

[@Velvet0Starship2013]

My ability to come up with an original "has let him/her/itself go" comment has ( *imagines early laughter trickling in* )...

[@mynameisloader]

Stew's a good egg, 8/10

[@joefarang]

you're right. stew is a good sort.

[@georgesimpson1406]

Egg! He said egg!

[@dvdly]

George's right, he did say 'egg'. I was there. Well, I wasn't 'there' there, as in, I wasn't there then, but I am here now, and clearly he said 'egg'. Maybe the 'sort' you're referring to, G M, is a sort of egg. Is it a sort of egg you're referring to? George, G M might have been referring to sort of egg, which means it might be time for you to apologise for your outburst. That'd be the polite thing to do anyway, whether he meant sort of egg or not.

[@seamusblack5876]

I adore Mr Lee

[@VanceRefrigeration]

Ang Lee?

[@anthonyhalliday7393]

Diane Abbott's vitiligo has let itself go.

[@TheNeverposts]

I see Kim Jong Un has finally transitioned

[@GibsonFender]

Hahahaha

[@ciphermatrix]

Interesting to see Neil talk about only watching content that matches your viewpoint, years before he goes on to establish GB tv...

[@paulmichael8796]

Talking about echo-chambers hahaha

[@lennoxmate4064]

@@paulmichael8796 well social media is a liberal echo chamber?

[@paulmichael8796]

@@lennoxmate4064 there's more than enough right wing idiocy all over social media if that's your thing. You do you.

[@lennoxmate4064]

@@paulmichael8796 Social media is left wing dominated. They literally own big tech. So shut up about echo chambers then. I think right wingers and left wingers need their heads examining.

[@andrewhyogo]

People who always comment on a Stewart Lee video with the words `...has let himself go`... have let themselves go.

[@Dildaphone]

He said ethics, I think he meant etiquette.

[@pitchforkcustom]

i just shouted 100% pear cider into a cave full of andrew neil’s and i got a thumbs 🍺

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

Why is Andrew Neil interviewing William Shatner

[@ReactionsTo2023]

Robbie Williams has let himself go

[@atheistcory4174]

Liz Kendall.....nom nom!!

[@jamesknox64]

Atheist Cory You're not kidding. If I could have any woman in my bed discussing economic and fiscal policy and the possibility of a two state solution for Israel-Palestine it would be her. Oh baby...

[@Ipdex]

Liz Kendall is a babe

[@johngalantini6910]

Love how this video auto-plays immediately after the video of Richard Herring appearing on this show in 2017. Literally "If you like this... see this".

[@roberth1322]

I didn't realise Richard Herring was on This Week, he's a cracking comedian in his own right, very idiosyncratic.

[@owencharnley]

Johnny Rotten has let himself go

[@25dimensionsfrancis42]

Politicians desire division because that gives them the ability to say we live in a democracy .They also encourage passion among the people for one tribe or the other [usually two tribes ] as they know that all politicians are part of the elite. I have seen many changes from one tribe to the other and there were just as many poor just as many homeless just as much poor housing just as much of handing out of titles to their own kind to inform me that there was really very little difference. Politicians understand that there must eventually be a change of tribe to enhance the elusion of democracy . What went a little out of control was the ability to predict the social media and a change within humans where that passion for one tribe or the other turned into violence which did not exist when i was young and only those who have seen that change with their own eyes over time can spot the new challenge and dangers.

[@saelaird]

Terry Christian has let himself go.

[@tuckedup]

"...and when the broken hearted people living in the world agree....there will be an answer, let it go, let it go..."

[@bumgardenerkreme1044]

I think Liz Kendal is cute. Shit I've let myself go !

[@crimp_and_straighteners]

Ed Balls has let himself go

[@guitarreilly]

This guy has so much integrity it makes me sick

[@Fredric_Cedrich]

Strange to see Andrew Neil talking about this sort of stuff about talking to people you disagree with only to go on & make GB News… must genuinely mean that he did not intend it to turn out like it has & that he was swindled as much as the current viewers are.

[@jetteraismabash4186]

The elephant man has let himself go

[@VacantHaven]

Barry George has let himself go

[@Juan_lauda]

The most vile crimes often hide behind the mask of polite civility

[@paulgee4336]

Echo Chambers are HIGHLY underrated.

[@nazirkazi2588]

Is that Andrew Neil off of GB News.. briefly?

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

Pat Sharp has let himself go

[@mrbtapir]

The irony there is that Pat Sharp himself, hasn't let himself go.

[@KPGRUND]

Todd Carty has let himself go !

[@MrTaitors]

Ironic coz Andrew Neil is not the nicest when challenged.

[@Retrobeemer]

KD Lang has let herself go.

[@stevesanderson9942]

Green room etiquette has let itself go.

[@I_Was_Chrispy_Kreme]

I don't agree with Portillos politics, but I would always says we should be polite to even those we don't agree with. 6 years on this have got worse not better

[@jeromedawson1753]

Philip Schofield's puppet, gordon the gopher has let himself go

[@ZER0--]

I knew I didn't have to scroll down the comments section very low to find the "....has let himself go" comments. Just because you write your comment whilst having the voice and cockiness of Stewart Lee doesn't mean it's funny. Needless to say I had the last laugh. (That's a subliminal joke.)

[@johnmartinez7440]

No, that's an Alan Partridge joke.

[@ZER0--]

@@johnmartinez7440 I just read my comment from 5 years ago. I seem a bit annoyed, and maybe a bit annoying. Anyway, Good Call spotting the AP reference. Back of the net.

[@elpistolero9394]

Is that KD Lang

[@thrashpilot]

Huáng Bīnhóng has let himself go.

[@incurableromantic4006]

The funniest thing I ever heard was Lee whining that people were sending him death threats. In other words, people doing *exactly* what he does in all his shows.

[@redfield1007]

My mum has let herself go.

[@steerpike50]

I try and look at the far right, and far left then stumble around in the middle, cherry picking the ideas that make the most sense .

[@Banksy-q9l]

Most people think they do that though.

[@andycain4351]

Andrew Neills left hand side empty chair has let itself go......

[@RussJoysandsorrows]

The algorithm has let itself go

[@Pwwh0711]

'Just noticed Stewart's left hand - did he sit an exam after this appearance?

[@porcepot8111]

Haile Selassie has let himself go

[@ianmcilwraith4479]

Andrew Neil has let himself go to the south of France

[@joefagan9335]

Is that Ratko Mladić??

[@kensvideos1]

Ignore the algorithm, follow the character.

[@stevenlewis9234]

Gilbert the Alien has let himself go.

[@simonwright9735]

Andrew Neil's hair piece is polite.

[@peterread6967]

It's certainly let itself go.........

[@Our_Sole_Pusch]

Gary Rhodes has let himself go.

[@daxpwnsyouall]

Reading this today, this comment is very much a jovial read

[@tomthumblittle2289]

Frank Bruno has let himself go

[@duncefunce1513]

Stewart Lee seemed a bit more fun back then. Or is he more fun now? I don't actually know.

[@williampark6704]

I just don't want to let this go: I think there's something dubious about all of this. All of it. Which part though, that's the thing. I just can't let it go. I want the days of normal telephones to return: the boxes. Gangsters, too. What's happened to all the gangsters? Excuse me.

[@paulthorpe766]

Andrews' glasses, that hitherto had perched high upon his proboscis, have let themselves go !

[@crissieroserose]

i love him ,, i just wanna squeeeze him

[@LordBrettSinclair]

Has the Pear cider comment perhaps been done to death?

[@Dee-gi4ge]

Give it to them straight..

[@davidlumb3167]

Fill in the blank has let himself go

[@Cotictimmy]

I notice that "Farage" doesn't appear to qualify for politeness from 4%.

[@eggeggeggegg3077]

The ghost of kyiv is doing well