The BBC Radio Comedy Series

The Mark Steel Solution

Mark Steel uses his unique logic to propose subversive solutions to society's problems 
 
What if the Royal Family was chosen by weekly lottery? 
Why should giving to charity be illegal? 
Could government economic policy be decided by sport? 
 
Award-winning writer and comedian Mark Steel aims to put the world to rights in these 15 episodes, as he comes up with radical proposals to improve our lives and sort out our social ills. 
 
From the economy to transport, housing, crime and our current age of pessimism, Mark’s got a brilliant idea that’s sure to fix the problem. Each show sees him using witty, persuasive arguments and short, sharp sketches to present his case, as he contends that having a job should be illegal, everyone should have to be gay for two years, and nobody should have to go to school until they’re 36. 
 
Whatever the issue, Mark’s got the answer – whether it’s dealing with immigration by deporting everyone born in England, or healing religious divisions by making everyone change their faith every Monday. Lend him your ears and he’ll convince you of anything, as he sets about proving that the ridiculous is really very sensible indeed – and that changing the world is easy, if you’re willing to listen to his advice... 
 
Written and performed by Mark Steel and Spitting Image writer Pete Sinclair, this funny, thought-provoking series also features Maria McErlane and Kim Wall. 
 
 
Written by Mark Steel and Pete Sinclair 
Starring Mark Steel, Pete Sinclair, Maria McErlane and Kim Wall 
Produced by Turan Ali (Series 1) and Phil Clarke (Series 2-4) 
 
Contents: 
 
Series 1 
The Family: ‘No-one should live in the same family for more than one year’ 
Judges: ‘Ex-convicts should be recruited as High Court judges’ 
The Economy: ‘Government economic policy should be decided by sport’ 
 
Series 2 
Unemployment: ‘Having a job should be illegal’ 
Transport: ‘Transport should only be paid for by people who don’t use it’ 
Housing: ‘Everyone in Britain should be re-housed at random’ 
The Royal Family: ‘The Royal Family should be chosen by weekly lottery’ 
 
Series 3 
Sexual Politics: ‘Everyone should have to be gay for two years’ 
Charity : ‘Anybody who gives to charity should be jailed’ 
Crime: ‘Criminals should decide their own punishment’ 
Immigration: ‘Anyone born in England should be deported’ 
 
Series 4 
Religion: ‘People should have to change their religion every Monday’ 
The Media: ‘Anyone in charge of the media should be sacked after thirty minutes’ 
Education: ‘Nobody should go to school until they are 36’ 
Pessimism: ‘Pessimists should be persecuted by law’ 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 5 from 16 Oct-13 Nov 1992 (Series 1), 15 July-5 Aug 1994 (Series 2), 4 Aug-25 Aug 1995 (Series 3), 16 Aug-6 Sept 1996 (Series 4) 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Mark Steel Revolution

Radical comedian Mark Steel takes a sideways look at some of the most tumultuous moments in history 
 
Mark Steel turns his analytical mind to the theme of revolutions in these six entertaining lectures, examining some of the major historical forces at work and holding up a mirror to our own age. 
 
In these entertaining lectures, he reinterprets the French Revolution, examining everything from the storming of the Bastille to the guillotine; looks at the politics of the sexual revolution (taking in the pill, the women’s movement and the Stonewall riots); and assesses the motivating factors and key players in the Russian Revolution – including the Romanovs, Rasputin and the Red Guard. 
 
He also explores how the Industrial Revolution transformed our perception of time, work and money; argues that the American Civil War was not just a rebellion but a full-blown revolution; and shows how Darwin’s revolutionary theory of natural selection was so shocking, he kept it quiet for 20 years for fear of a backlash... 
 
With readings by Martin Hyder and Carla Mendonça and witty comic sketches, this amusing, informative series is packed with fantastic stories, extraordinary characters and fascinating historical facts. 
 
Written and presented by Mark Steel 
With Martin Hyder and Carla Mendonça 
Produced by Phil Clarke 
 
Contents: 
The French Revolution 
The Sexual Revolution 
The Russian Revolution 
The Industrial Revolution 
The American Civil War 
The Theory of Evolution 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 June – 4 August 1998 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Mark Steel Lectures

Radical comedian Mark Steel profiles sixteen historical figures who shaped their era 
 
Sony Award-winning satirist and stand-up comedian Mark Steel takes us through the life stories of some of his favourite historical characters in this acclaimed radio series, which ran for three series on BBC Radio 4 before transferring to TV in 2003. From Oliver Cromwell to Ludvig van Beethoven, Mark’s chosen personalities are all passionate, driven – and more than a little eccentric... 
 
Among the inspirational people he profiles are W. G. Grace, one of cricket’s greatest players and the first modern celebrity; Mary Shelley, a radical’s daughter who married a poet and invented science fiction; Che Guevara, who became a left-wing hero despite chronic asthma; and Aristotle, who deserves to be remembered for much more than a line in a Monty Python song. 
 
In addition, he delves into the lives of Renaissance genius (and absent-minded buffoon) Leonardo da Vinci; Carthaginian elephant-wrangler and scourge of the Romans, Hannibal; jazz singer Billie Holiday, whose trademark song ‘Strange Fruit’ was so inflammatory that Columbia refused to record it; and gravity-defining mathematician Isaac Newton, who was obsessed with alchemy and tried to turn lead into gold. 
 
Illustrated with idiosyncratic sketches featuring Melanie Hudson, Martin Hyder, Kim Wall, Carla Mendonça, Femi Elufowoju Junior and Debbie Isitt, these informative, accessible and hugely entertaining lectures celebrate the remarkable men and women whose ideas and enthusiasm changed the world. 
 
 
Written and performed by Mark Steel 
With Melanie Hudson, Martin Hyder, Kim Wall, Carla Mendonça, Femi Elufowoju Junior and Debbie Isitt 
Produced by Phil Clarke (Series 1) and Lucy Armitage (Series 2 & 3) 
Executive producer: Paul Schlesinger 
 
Contents: 
 
Series 1 
Oliver Cromwell 
W. G. Grace 
Charlie Chaplin 
Thomas Paine 
 
Series 2 
Lord Byron 
Aristotle 
Leonardo da Vinci 
Che Guevara 
Billie Holiday 
Karl Marx 
 
Series 3 
Ludwig van Beethoven 
Hannibal 
Isaac Newton 
Mary Shelley 
Muhammad Ali 
Napoleon Bonaparte 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9-30 August 1999 (Series 1), 13 March – 17 April 2001 (Series 2), 18 September – 23 October 2002 (Series 3) 
 
© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio 4 comedy series

Mark Steel’s In Town: Series 11 & 12

The complete Series 11 and 12 of Mark Steel's comedy travel show 
 
'Consistently the funniest programme on the radio' The Independent 
 
Mark Steel is back with two more series of his award-winning show, in which he explores nine weird and wonderful places around the UK and beyond. After thoroughly researching each town's history, people and idiosyncrasies, he goes on to write and perform a tailor-made evening of stand-up for the residents. 
 
Series 11 takes him to the former mining town of Blyth, Northumberland, where he finds a fascinating industrial legacy, a posh pub, and a very nice beach; Walthamstow, where he's joined by local MP Stella Creasey for a discussion about the controversial 'mini-Holland' cycling scheme; and Whitby; where he dodges the seagulls to present his findings on the Dracula origin story, chip shops and the resort's whaling history. 
 
In Series 12, Mark tours the contrarian city of Nottingham to learn about local legends Robin Hood and Frank the xylophone player; and travels to Tring's Natural History Museum to take in the exhibit of fleas dressed as Mexicans. He also sets out to the Isles of Scilly, Salisbury and Newport, and pops over to Paris, where he performs two versions of his show: one in English and one in French... 
 
With just the right blend of affection and rudeness, he celebrates the curious stories, quirky characters and regional eccentricities that make these areas unique. Whether you're a local or an out-of-towner, his hilarious observations will have you roaring with laughter. 
 
Written by and starring Mark Steel 
Additional material by Pete Sinclair 
Produced by Julia McKenzie and Carl Cooper 
Production co-ordinators: Beverly Tagg, Sarah Sharpe and Katie Baum 
Sound Manager: Jerry Peal 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 1-15 December 2021 (Series 11), 22 August-26 September 2022 (Series 12) 
 
©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series

Mark Steel’s in Town: Series 9 & 10

The complete ninth and tenth series of Mark Steel’s comedy travelogue

The complete ninth and tenth series of Mark Steel's comedy travelogue 
 
In these two series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 show, comedian Mark Steel is on the road again, visiting places that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. Along the way, he delves into the history, heritage and culture of each town, before going on to write and perform a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. 
 
His first stop is Hastings, where he finds that a lot's happened since 1066 - including an annual Pirates' Day. Other destinations on his road trip include King's Lynn (where he's thrilled to find a traffic island full of rabbits), Carlisle (notable for its cursing stone and pervasive smell of biscuits) and Aberystwyth (the 'Athens of Wales' and home to the Holy Grail). 
 
Plus, he ventures into the Forest of Dean - but manages to make it out alive, and heads across the Med to Malta, where he samples some pastizzi and gets caught up in a parade. He also performs two COVID-friendly outdoor shows, on Brighton Beach and from a tree stump in The Dell Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon, and finishes with a special online episode, in which he talks to a virtual audience about the many places he's visited over the course of 10 series of Mark Steel's In Town. 
 
Winner of numerous accolades including the 2010 Silver and 2012 Gold Awards for Best Comedy at the Sony Radio Academy Awards and the 2018 BBC Radio Awards Best Comedy Show, this quirky, engaging series is - in the words of the Sony judges - 'stand-up comedy at its very best'. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written and performed by Mark Steel 
Additional material by Pete Sinclair 
Produced by Carl Cooper 
Production co-ordinators: Hayley Sterling and Beverly Tagg 
Sound Manager: Jerry Peal 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 17 January-21 February 2019 (Series 9), 12-26 November 2020 (Series 10)

The complete ninth and tenth series of Mark Steel's comedy travelogue 
 
In these two series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 show, comedian Mark Steel is on the road again, visiting places that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. Along the way, he delves into the history, heritage and culture of each town, before going on to write and perform a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. 
 
His first stop is Hastings, where he finds that a lot's happened since 1066 - including an annual Pirates' Day. Other destinations on his road trip include King's Lynn (where he's thrilled to find a traffic island full of rabbits), Carlisle (notable for its cursing stone and pervasive smell of biscuits) and Aberystwyth (the 'Athens of Wales' and home to the Holy Grail). 
 
Plus, he ventures into the Forest of Dean - but manages to make it out alive, and heads across the Med to Malta, where he samples some pastizzi and gets caught up in a parade. He also performs two COVID-friendly outdoor shows, on Brighton Beach and from a tree stump in The Dell Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon, and finishes with a special online episode, in which he talks to a virtual audience about the many places he's visited over the course of 10 series of Mark Steel's In Town. 
 
Winner of numerous accolades including the 2010 Silver and 2012 Gold Awards for Best Comedy at the Sony Radio Academy Awards and the 2018 BBC Radio Awards Best Comedy Show, this quirky, engaging series is - in the words of the Sony judges - 'stand-up comedy at its very best'. 
 
Cast and credits 
Written and performed by Mark Steel 
Additional material by Pete Sinclair 
Produced by Carl Cooper 
Production co-ordinators: Hayley Sterling and Beverly Tagg 
Sound Manager: Jerry Peal 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 17 January-21 February 2019 (Series 9), 12-26 November 2020 (Series 10)

Mark Steel's In Town: Series 7 & 8

Comedian Mark Steel visits towns across the UK and creates a show for a local audience

In each episode of this award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, comedian Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. 
 
Mark’s destinations in series 7 and 8 are: Stockport, Colchester, Hebden Bridge, Kingston upon Thames, Lynton and Lynmouth, Gibraltar, Bedford, Matlock and Matlock Bath, Inverness, Portishead, Hull and Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. This collection includes bonus special extended episodes from Gibraltar and Ventnor. 
 
In 2010 Mark Steel's in Town won a Silver Award for "Best Comedy" in the Sony Radio Academy Awards, and in 2012 it won the Gold Award in the same category. Also in 2010 it won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for "Best Radio Comedy / Light Entertainment". The series was voted "Best Radio Entertainment Show" in the Comedy.co.uk Awards held by the British Comedy Guide in the 2012 and 2015 awards.

The BBC Radio 4 comedy series

Mark Steel's In Town: Series 5 & 6

In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture.

Steel sees how far he can push the famed British ability to laugh at ourselves. The answer is quite a long way.

Mark Steel is an English comedian, broadcaster, newspaper columnist and author. A stand-up comedian known for his left-wing beliefs (he was a long-standing member of the Socialist Workers Party) he has made many appearances on radio and television shows as a guest panellist, and has written regular columns in The Guardian and The Independent. He is perhaps best known for presenting The Mark Steel Lectures, The Mark Steel Revolution, The Mark Steel Solution and Mark Steel's in Town. [source: Wikipedia]

In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in Series 5 &amp; 6 are Glastonbury; Derry / Londonderry; St. Davids; Southall; Birkenhead; Huddersfield; Melton Mowbray; Fleetwood; Shrewsbury; Barnard Castle and Saint Anne. Duration: 6 hours approx.

Mark Steel's In Town: Series 3 & 4 plus Edinburgh Special

In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in Series 3 &amp; 4 are Berwick-Upon-Tweed; Holyhead; Basingstoke; Douglas on the Isle Of Man; Bungay; Wigan; Whitehaven; Tobermory; Corby; Handsworth; Ottery St. Mary and Chipping Norton. There's also a special episode recorded at the Edinburgh Festival. Duration: 6 hours 30 mins approx.

Mark Steel's In Town: Series 1 & 2

In each episode of this BBC Radio 4 series Mark Steel visits a UK town and researches its history, heritage and culture, after which he performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents. Mark's destinations in Series 1 &amp; 2 are Skipton; Boston; Lewes; Walsall; Merthyr Tydfil; Portland; Dartford; Wilmslow; Dumfries; Penzance; Gateshead and Kirkwall . Duration: 6 hours approx.

Mark Steel

Clare Balding

Mark Steel’s award-winning comedy travel show is back, with extended episodes! 
 
Listen to two more series of Mark Steel’s award-winning show, in which he explores weird and wonderful towns around the UK and beyond. Mark writes and performs a tailor-made evening of stand-up for local residents, after thoroughly researching their history, people and idiosyncrasies. These towns have nothing in common other than their uniqueness. Listen to this joyful exploration of the UK and discover there’s a lot more to places than meets the eye! 
 
Mark’s destinations for Series 13 include Margate, Stoke-on-Trent, Malvern, East Grinstead, Nether Edge and Coleraine in Northern Ireland. He samples the local honey, visits the shops, cafes, a rum keg and the bowls club that once threw out Ronnie Wood for inappropriate behaviour. He listens for the ghost of Elgar, and discovers the magical places where T.S Eliot wrote a verse of The Wasteland, J.M.W Turner painted views of the Harbour, Tracy Emin spent her formative years and Pete Doherty has his name on a wall of fame for eating a "mega breakfast" in under 20 minutes… 
 
In Series 14 Mark pops into Oakham, Wrexham, Cambridge, Lewisham, Lerwick and Unst in Shetland. Joining Mark in Series 14 is Clare Balding, who’s also in town to take him on a ramble around Rutland. He finds himself in a village that's proudly twinned with Paris (even if the Parisians don’t know), finds Europe’s largest man-made lake (which required flooding a local village) and hangs horseshoes the other way round (so the devil falls out, obviously). He travels up the country to the farthest north where Viking heritage meets oil rigs and knitting patterns, where the winter fire festival Up Helly Aa lights up the darkness, and where the locals are masters of making their own fun. 
 
Written and performed by Mark Steel 
Additional material by Pete Sinclair 
Produced by Carl Cooper 
Production co-ordinators: Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum 
Sound Manager: Jerry Peal 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 24th Jun - 29th Jul 2024 (series 13) & 7th Oct - 10th Nov 2025 (series 14). 
 
©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mark Steel

Books by Mark Steel

Series by Mark Steel

Mark Steel’s In Town

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