Stewart Lee
artsdepot
Nether Street, North Finchley
Saturday, February 24, 8pm

These days, Stewart Lee is best known as the co-writer and director of the controversial and critically-acclaimed theatre hit, Jerry Springer The Opera, but comedy fans have long known him as a staple of the UK stand-up scene.

As one of the most respected figures in British comedy, Lee has consistently been a cutting-edge talent, whether working as a writer, comedian or director.

In the early Nineties, Stewart co-scripted the original appearances of Steve Coogan's Alan Partridge character for BBC Radio, and the show he performed with Richard Herring, Fist Of Fun, transferred to BBC television in 1999. In recent years he has branched out and moved away from his traditional stand-up routines.

His first novel, The Perfect Fool, was published in 2001. Lee also writes about rock, folk and jazz music for a national newspaper, and presents radio shows on London's community arts radio station, Resonance 104.4 FM.

Despite his other work, Lee has always been well-loved for his stand-up routines.

When he returned to the Edinburgh Fringe festival in 2004 following a four-year absence, his show was a sell-out hit, described as one of the best comedy gigs in years.

Even Ricky Gervais regards Lee as the cleverest, funniest, most cliche-free comedian on the circuit.' Tickets for the show are £15, or £12 for concessions, and are available from the artsdepot box office on 020 8369 5454.