The BEST episodes directed by Tim Kirkby
#1 - Democracy
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 2 - Episode 6
In this final show in the series, Stewart Lee gives a uniquely personal insight into the workings of government.
Watch Now:Amazon#2 - Islamophobia
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 4 - Episode 2
Stewart Lee takes on the subject of Islamophobia.
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - Wealth
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 4 - Episode 1
Stewart Lee takes on the subject of wealth.
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Shilbottle
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 3 - Episode 1
Stewart Lee's award-winning stand-up series returns after a three year absence, as he takes on six new subjects in his own unique style. Stew shares his thoughts about social media and ponders some alterations to road signs along the A1 in Northumberland.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - London
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 3 - Episode 5
Stewart Lee presents his unique view of the world as his award-winning standup series continues. Featuring a guest appearance from Paul Putner.
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#6 - Maths
Look Around You - Season 1 - Episode 1
Maths can help us in our daily lives - for example, in cooking pasta, in calculating the correct moment for starting a conversation, or (if you can fly) in working out where to land. Queen Elizabeth III and Queen Elizabeth IV are going to a party given by Queen Elizabeth V. QE3 has forty dresses to choose from, QE4 has four thousand, and QE5 has only one dress, but it can take the form of many dresses. Then, during the night, QE3's servant steals the plans for QE4's party dress and, working till dawn, makes four thousand exact copies... So can we reckon what the chance is that all of the Queens will be wearing the same dress at the party?
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#7 - 7 Days to Go
You, Me and the Apocalypse - Season 1 - Episode 8
Jamie seriously underestimates Ariel’s intelligence when the pair come face to face in uncertain circumstances. Meanwhile, with their apocalypse plan in motion, Scotty, Gaines and the team anxiously wait to see if they have done enough to save the world. Plus, Celine is forced to make a major decision about her future, and there are huge consequences when Father Jude makes a daring stand against the Vatican hierarchy.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#8 - England
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 3 - Episode 2
Stewart Lee's award-winning stand-up series continues as he tackles fears of immigration and an opinionated taxi driver's views on what can get you sent to jail in England these days. Featuring guest appearances from Kevin Eldon and Paul Putner.
Watch Now:Amazon#9 - Sulphur
Look Around You - Season 1 - Episode 5
Sulphur is revealed, and the story is not really about brimstone.
Watch Now:Amazon#10 - Water
Look Around You - Season 1 - Episode 2
In this episode we learn about the amazing igloo-building skills of ants and the surprising ability of water to boil eggs.
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#11 - Teacup
Man Seeking Woman - Season 1 - Episode 9
Liz struggles to move on after getting dumped by Leo.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#12 - Context
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 3 - Episode 4
Stewart Lee presents his unique view of the world as his award-winning standup series continues. Featuring guest appearances from Kevin Eldon and Paul Putner.
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#13 - Toilet Books
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 1 - Episode 1
In the first episode of this new series, Stewart looks at the phenomenon of toilet books. Where did they come from? And why? For some reason, someone, somewhere, thought history, fiction, poetry and the like weren’t enough any more, and so they invented celebrity hardbacks, tragic lives and Dan Brown. Stewart takes a look at some of this new lavatory literature, including works by Asher D and Paddy McGinty’s Goat, and finds out what would happen if Dan Brown got a job where he had to break bad news.
Watch Now:Amazon
#14 - London
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 2 - Episode 2
Stewart Lee looks at why more and more people are thinking about moving out of London for a taste of life in the countryside and why, upon reflection, that might not be as idyllic as they thought.
Watch Now:Amazon#15 - Marriage
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 3 - Episode 6
Stewart Lee presents his unique view of the world as his award-winning standup series continues.
Watch Now:Amazon#16 - Death
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 4 - Episode 4
Stewart Lee takes on the subject of death.
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#18 - Patriotism
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 4 - Episode 3
Stewart Lee takes on the subject of patriotism.
Watch Now:Amazon#19 - Childhood
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 4 - Episode 6
Stewart Lee takes on the subject of childhood.
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#20 - Charity
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 2 - Episode 3
Charity is the topic for Stewart Lee's unique brand of stand-up this week, during which he gives Adrian "Toby Jug" Chiles and Russell "Ninjas" Howard a thorough drubbing. Charity was also the topic of the first show in the series, but he was waylaid by different varieties of crisps so they've made him do it again.
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#22 - Comedy
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 1 - Episode 5
Stewart explores the difficulties of making jokes about religion, and how it turns out that most jokes about religion aren't actually about religion at all.
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#23 - Religion
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 1 - Episode 6
Stewart talks about comedy - how it works, how to do it, and how, having turned forty, he is worried that things might be going downhill.
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#24 - 14 Days to Go
You, Me and the Apocalypse - Season 1 - Episode 7
Scotty is forced to choose between sister Rhonda and Operation Saviour when he spots a crucial error in the plan to save the world. With just two weeks to go until impact, Messiah hunters Celine and Jude investigate a marriage cult on a holiday island. Plus, Ariel embarks on a threatening mission. And, eager for answers, Jamie travels with Dave to what he believes is Layla’s home, where the danger proves far from over for him and those close to him.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#25 - 17 Days to Go
You, Me and the Apocalypse - Season 1 - Episode 6
Deeply unhappy about the choices he has made in the name of professional duty, Scotty tries to make amends. However, his actions fail to go down well with Gaines.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#26 - Beach House
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Season 2 - Episode 12
The team is excited to spend the weekend at Charles' beach house for a detectives-only-getaway, until Jake ruins the fun by inviting Captain Holt. Meanwhile, Charles helps Rosa send romantic texts to her new boyfriend, and Gina tries to get Amy drunk, simply for her own enjoyment.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#27 - Detroit
Veep - Season 3 - Episode 6
At an economic summit in Detroit, Selina’s staff and her family are peeved by the presence of her new personal trainer. Meanwhile, Jonah and Mike negotiate a photo-op with Selina and Maddox. Later, Catherine protects her mom from a protestor, and Selina attends a women’s gun show.
Watch Now:Amazon
#28 - Political Correctness
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 1 - Episode 3
Stewart Lee asks whether political correctness really has gone mad, or whether it is just something people say because they don't really understand what it means. Stewart thinks he knows what it means - though the tale of how his attempts to lose weight were ruined by the PC minefield makes him not so sure... not to mention the story of how a lost ballet shoe caused a national scandal.
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#31 - Identity
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 2 - Episode 5
Stewart looks at the notion of identity, how different nations define themselves and debunks the myth of one of Britain's greatest national heroes.
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#32 - The Brain
Look Around You - Season 1 - Episode 8
The team investigates the human brain and meets a man who is addicted to Electronic Brain Enhancements. What happens if you probe the brobe? How many nuts are there in a jar? And what are brain flakes? All of these questions are addressed, if not answered.
Watch Now:Amazon#33 - Migrants
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 4 - Episode 5
Stewart Lee takes on the subject of migrants.
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#34 - Health
Look Around You - Season 2 - Episode 2
The team looks at advances in healthcare, and Jack Morgan goes under the knife as Dr Fu supervizes the efforts of a robot-surgeon called Medibot to create the perfect face. Other presenters try out a new toothbrush that burns away plaque - though with one rather serious side effect... And in a special report, the team visits a Sleep Institute and meets its director, Professor Craven, a man with some cutting-edge ideas.
Watch Now:Amazon#35 - Music
Look Around You - Season 1 - Episode 6
A brief investigation of the world of music, from its Neolithic beginnings...
Watch Now:Amazon#36 - Satire
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 3 - Episode 3
Stewart Lee's award-winning stand-up series continues as he explains what satire is, using the example of the renowned epitome of the genre, Planet of the Apes.
Watch Now:Amazon#37 - Computers
Look Around You - Season 2 - Episode 5
The team looks at the hottest new computer technology and meets an e-boffin who has officially changed his name to Computer Jones (Paul Jerrico). Computer introduces the UK's most powerful computer, called Bournemouth. In this week's Challenge, can Bournemouth escape from a reinforced steel cage? We meet the world's first computer for women, the Petticoat 5, and meet its inventor, Patricia (Belinda Stewart-Wilson). The Invention of the Week is the Memory Helmet - can Pam learn all of Shakespeare's plays in the studio in half a minute? The team visits the Grithiffths Game Megamart, where manager Lee Grithiffths (Alex Lowe) shows off one or two of his hottest new computer games. Lastly, we look at the latest in computerized bathroom technology.
Watch Now:Amazon#38 - Germs
Look Around You - Season 1 - Episode 3
You need to know something about Germs. You really do. And Professor Miles can help you...
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#40 - Financial Crisis
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 1 - Episode 4
In the fourth episode of this new series, Stewart comments that it’s not easy making a comedy show about a global financial crisis. But he’s going to give it a go, trying to find out how the financial markets got themselves into this mess and who’s going to get them out of it. He also discovers that destroying your own home just might pay off; that those who put money under the bed and not in the bank were right all along; and – most horrifying of all – in London, one is never more than 10 ft from an estate agent. At least he’s got fond memories of Woolworths, MFI and Zavvi…
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#41 - Charity
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 2 - Episode 1
In the first of six themed shows, Stewart sets out to explore some ideas about charity, but instead gets sidetracked and ends up talking mostly about crisps.
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#42 - Stand-Up
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 2 - Episode 4
Stewart talks about stand-up comedy, adding variety by choosing to sit down and throwing in some guitar-driven songs as a result of his exposure to fellow comedian Tim Minchin, who in a surprising turn of events he actually likes.
Watch Now:Amazon#43 - Music 2000
Look Around You - Season 2 - Episode 1
We visit the Look Around You Music 2000 Competition, a search for the sounds people will be listening to in the year 2000. Three contestants have half a minute each to perform what they think will be the music of tomorrow. Contestant Anthony Carmichael gives us England's first ever performance of rap music. The contest is judged by Look Around You's resident music expert, the Ghost of the composer Tchaikovsky, who speaks through an interpreter. We also meet the chairman of the Royal Pop and Rock Association, Sir Alan Rees, who coincidentally is the reigning French-kissing champion.
Watch Now:Amazon#44 - Live Final
Look Around You - Season 2 - Episode 6
The Look Around You Invention of the Year Award comes to you live from BBC Television Centre in Shepherd's Bush, London. Six leading inventors are in the studio hoping to take the big trophy. The finalists include the team behind a machine which can change your sex in minutes, and it will be tested live on the show. HRH Prince Charles will be announcing the winner and awarding the grand prize, always supposing he is not busy somewhere else...
Watch Now:Amazon#45 - Sport
Look Around You - Season 2 - Episode 3
This week, the team looks at advances in sporting technology. The world 400,000-metre champion, Ros Lamb, demonstrates a new serum (based on caramel-flavoured rocket fuel) which is said to help her to run at up to 3,500 miles per hour. And Ros faces this week's Challenge - can she run the 524 miles from London to Aberdeen in under five minutes? (But it was not foreseen that she would arrive in Scotland half her original size.) We meet two of the clones of the late Sebastian Jackson, the world's most famous football designer. The Invention of the Week is a betting system - based on a machine made of straw and designed by a race-horse. Finally, the team visits the U.S. to investigate the new sport of Gonnis - which is an inspired cross between golf and tennis.
Watch Now:Amazon
#46 - Television
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle - Season 1 - Episode 2
In the second episode, Stewart casts his eye over the state of British television today, and tries to find out whose fault it is. Along the way, via a sketch, he meets the villagers who, every year, host a bizarre celebration of The Funniest Moment Ever On Television; explains his idea for a sequel to March Of The Penguins; and finds out why Ant and Dec never seem to grow older.
Watch Now:Amazon
#47 - Food
Look Around You - Season 2 - Episode 4
The team looks at advances in food science and technology, and the world's one and only vegetable orchestra, led by Teddy Clarke, gives us a live performance in the studio. We meet Andy Gough, Slimmer of the Year, a fellow who lost fifty-two stone [for American viewers: one stone is sixteen pounds] in six weeks, thanks to a controversial slimming powder. We also visit the food industry's annual show and see some inspiring hi-tech developments. A special report looks at the growth of fast food casserole joints, stepping into the world's only computer-run casserole cafe where the menu features four types of casserole - beef, chicken, ham and porcupine. Lastly, the gang throws a futuristic birthday party for Pam - with a surprise guest.
Watch Now:Amazon#48 - Ghosts
Look Around You - Season 1 - Episode 4
Why can't ghosts whistle? Well, let's hear from a ghost.
Watch Now:Amazon