Stewart Lee began stand-up at the age of 20 in 1988, winning the Hackney Empire new act of the year award in 1990. In the 90's he contributed to BBC Radio comedy shows, including Fist of Fun and On The Hour, with Steve Coogan and Chris Morris. He is best known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring. The double act wrote material for BBC Radio 4's On The Hour (1991), which was notable for the first appearance of Coogan's celebrated character, Alan Partridge, for which Lee and Herring wrote much early material.

He directed the Mighty Boosh's breakthrough Edinburgh show, Arctic Boosh, in 1999. The multi-faceted funny-man also wrote a novel, The Perfect Fool, which was published by 4th Estate in 2001. In 2002, Stewart was invited to help write and direct the composer Richard Thomas' developing work, Jerry Springer The Opera. The show won four Olivier awards after its National Theatre run, though its commercial future was compromised by the right wing pressure group, Christian Voice.

Stewart's 2004 Edinburgh Fringe show, Stand-Up Comedian, was released on DVD and he won last year’s 41st Best Stand-Up Ever in a Channel 4 poll. In 2006, Stewart went to New Mexico for a Radio 4 documentary about Native American clowns, ‘White Face Dark Heart.’ Here at International Life we applaud Stewart Lee for his serious tone and social criticism in subtly mocking tones, almost like a forerunner for Ricky Gervais’ well loved character David Brent from The Office.

Stewart is a patron of London's Arts Radio station Resonance FM. His awards include the Chortle awards for Outstanding Contribution To Comedy and Best Full Length Show, and various lead statuettes for his work on Jerry Springer The Opera. In 2009, He is now filming his first TV series for a decade, Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle, for BBC2.