Stewart Lee at The Oxford Regal

By Tim Bearder
BBC Oxford

Lee went to Oxford University where he met former comedy partner Herring

Stewart Lee is a controversial stand up comedian. He divides opinion in everything he does.

He picked up four Olivier Awards for Jerry Springer The Opera at the same time prompting widespread protests and Christian demonstrations.

His recent BBC2 TV series Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle received 1.25 million viewers.

It was also mauled by the critics with The Daily Telegraph calling it 'pathetic'.

"Even the invited audience are bored out of their minds," the review said. "He is not unlike Brand and the slobbering, fawning Ross (OBE) - smug, overpaid, arrogant, apparently stupid and not remotely amusing or entertaining."

His current national stand-up show has provoked fury and outrage from fans of Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond after Lee dedicated 20 minutes of his show to a diatribe against his former schoolmate.

Yet even a scathing attack on a national institution didn't stop the show selling out during its Edinburgh run.

The title of his performance is clearly a nod to his marmite quality. Entitled If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask For One it will continue to delight many and infuriate many more - those in the later camp perhaps ought to take his advice.

Stewart Lee performs at The Regal on Thursday 26 November 2009. Doors 7pm / Show 8.15pm. Tickets available from www.oxfordcomedytickets.co.uk.