Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle

Lore & Background

The bulk of the show is a Stewart Lee stand-up comedy performance, recorded live at the Mildmay Club in Stoke Newington with a club audience. Usually two episodes were recorded per evening. Each episode has a theme, which Lee performs with his material. The stand-up is punctuated with sketches, written by Lee but usually performed by Kevin Eldon and Paul Putner with cameos from other TV and circuit comedians. From series 2, the sketches were removed in favour of a short film at the end of each episode.

Reader's Guide

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle is significant for reuniting the creative team behind On the Hour, with Chris Morris as script editor and Armando Iannucci as initial executive producer. The series allowed Lee complete creative control, as he stated he did not want to do any television without it. The show's format evolved over its four series, notably replacing sketches with short films from series 2 and integrating hostile interrogator segments into the main programme. The series received critical acclaim, including a BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy Programme for its second series in 2012, and a British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Programme in 2011. Its cancellation in 2016 was attributed to BBC Two budget cuts shifting focus to scripted comedy.

Did You Know?

• The first series theme tune is 'Tom Hark' by Elias & His Zig-Zag Jive Flutes.
• From series 2, the show has a cold open and no theme tune or title card.
• The hostile interrogator was played by Armando Iannucci in series 2 and by Chris Morris in series 3 and 4.
• Series 1 interrogator segments were accessed via BBC Red Button, not in the main programme.