Prolapse with Stewart Lee reading Pea Green Boat

Prolapse formed in the summer of 1991 under a table at Leicester Polytechnic's (Now DeMontfort University) Friday night disco, 'With the aim of being the most depressing band ever', earned a cult following for their live set, particularly for the tension within songs such as 'Tina This Is Matthew Stone', which were not so much sung as acted to a musical accompaniment.

In 1994 they released two EPs on Cherry Red Records, 'Crate' and 'Pull Thru Barker' both of which were singles of the week on Radio 1’s The Evening Session with Steve Lamacq and Jo Wiley. They followed this with the single 'Doorstop Rhythmic Bloc' and album Pointless Walks to Dismal Places, which won critical acclaim, being hailed by the Melody Maker as the real alternative to the Blur vs Oasis Britpop wars. Following these releases they left Cherry Red records, they then went on to release a variety of singles and EPs on a bewildering number of different labels.

An official Channel 4 survey of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups Ever placed Stewart Lee at number 41. His mother, whom he loves dearly, thinks Tom O'Connor the better comedian, having seen him do a joke about a sardine on a cruise ship ten years ago. And he isn't even in the top 100...

'The funniest, most cliche-free comedian on the circuit' (Ricky Gervais).

'Superlative... Remains one of the best stand-ups in the country' (Metro)

'Marvellously funny: mordant, thoughtful and crafted' (Observer)

'There's a wealth of evidence to suggest that in the last few years, Lee has gone completely mad... More skilful and playful than ever' (The Guardian)

'What is exhilarating is how many surprises he still throws in and how deft his jumps are from one tone to another….invigorating' (The Times)

'He is... the only comedian who can get away with deconstructing and critiquing his own routines as he goes along and not be repellent. He, and his material, are simply that good' (The Independent).