Anchor I know what you mean. I think a lot of very smart people from deprived areas can act up when they are young like he/they did. Combination of being excluded from a part of society populated by people with less talent and ability and youthful "fuckyouery".
Buxton is very very good though. Good research, very warm, sharp as a tack and always funny as fuck.
I can also recommend Cariad Lloyd's Griefcast. Not a load of belly laughs but deals with loss in a smart and funny way.