Mark Steel's In Town

As attention focuses on the Edinburgh festival, Mark Steel immerses himself in one of Edinburgh's lesser-known districts. Taking tales from the history, highways, and Hibs legends - not to mention the port workers, pub fights, and poetry - that make up this unique corner of Scotland's capital, Mark delivers a half hour of stand-up comedy about Leith. in front of an audience of born and bred Leithers.

Recorded at the BBC's Potterow venue in Edinburgh during the festival.

Produced by Sam Bryant.

Mark Steel uncovers the stories and characters that make up Leith in Edinburgh.

During his visit to the Lincolnshire town, he takes a look at the Stump and sprouts and sees for himself why the inhabitants have no need of a handbrake.

Mark tries to work out what makes the town so distinctive.

With a guest appearance from a Boston rapper.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Producer: Julia McKenzie

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2009.

Mark visits the Lincolnshire town's Stump and sprouts

During his visit, he also celebrates the East Sussex town's fires, pub fights and stroppiness.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Producer: Julia McKenzie

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2009.

Comedian Mark Steel celebrates the East Sussex town's fires, pub fights and stroppiness.

Mark discusses their statue of a concrete hippo, smaller than he expected and the fact that people keep moving it. Mark also jokes about the statue of Princess Diana that turned black.

Mark then talks about the leather trade and the local leather museum. Then there's the Walsall man who shot himself with his own taser.

Mark explores the town's history - mining and how he visited a very hot iron foundry. We hear about the creation of St. Monday, in which people tried to get the Monday off from work. Sister Dora was the 'Civilian Florence Nightingale' helping to improve health care for the poor, who also has a statue.

Mark tells us about the Walsall Anarchists who were framed by the police and probably the most famous anarchists in British history. And we can't forget Walsall's very own football club, who defeated the unstoppable Arsenal 2-0 in the 1930s - one of the biggest upsets in football history.

Produced by Julia McKenzie.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2009.

Mark celebrates Walsall and why it has nothing to do with Birmingham.

Mark checks out the town's history and compares it with Cardiff.

And he investigates the Welsh language - talking to a teacher, who compares it to modern Welsh. He also takes a look at the local pubs - and is surprised to discover that Merthyr Tydfil is the home of the Welsh Mormons.

Mark finds out about the impact of the Merthyr Rising, which was the biggest insurrection in British history since the Civil War. Plus, the history of boxing in Merthyr Tydfil.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Producer: Julia McKenzie

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2009.

Stand-up comedy from the Myfanwy Theatre in Merthyr Tydfil.

From the Myfanwy Theatre, Mark Steel performs for the residents of Merthyr Tydfil – the town in South Wales with a love of boxers and revolution.

And he investigates the Welsh language – talking to a teacher, who compares it to modern Welsh. He also takes a look at the local pubs – and is surprised to discover that Merthyr Tydfil is the home of the Welsh Mormons.

Find out why the locals are obsessed with obelisks and why you must never say the 'r' word.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Producer: Julia McKenzie

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in April 2009.

Stand-up from the Isle of Portland, Dorset: what makes the island so distinctive.

He creates a bespoke stand-up show for that town and performs the show in front of a local audience.

As well as shedding light on the less visited areas of Britain, Mark uncovers stories and experiences that resonate with us all as we recognise the quirkiness of the British way of life and the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people who have shaped where we live.

During the series 'Mark Steel's In Town' Mark will visit Dartford in Kent, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge in Cheshire, Dumfries in the Borders, Penzance in Cornwall, Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, and Kirkwall in the Orkneys.

Episode 1 - In this first episode Mark performs a show for the residents of Dartford in Kent where he talks about the peasants' revolt, gypsy tart, Mick Jagger and what one resident calls the Road To Hell. From April 2010.

Written by Mark Steel with additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Produced by Julia McKenzie.

Mark Steel performs a show for the residents of Dartford in Kent.

In this second episode Mark Visits Wilmslow in Cheshire and gets to grips with Footballers Mansions, 3D eyelashes and the rhyming Wizard of Alderley Edge. From April 2010.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Producer Julia Mckenzie.

Mark Steel visits Wilmslow and gets to grips with footballers' mansions and 3D eyelashes.

Whilst up there Mark enjoys a memorable night out in a local pub; a telling-off in the Baltic Art Gallery, a visit to the Angel of The North and an ugly car park that some people want to preserve because of its role in a grisly murder. From May 2010.

Home of the Angel of the North, Blaydon races and top innovations.

He's talking about war with Russia, Scottish rivalries and rather unusual local slang.

During his visit to the Northumberland town, he investigates the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel with additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011.

Comedian Mark Steel visits Berwick-upon-Tweed to find out what makes this town distinctive

He's talking about sinking ships, fishy foot nibbling, the newest locals - Kate and Wills, and a mayor whose eccentricity puts Boris to shame...

During his visit to the town on the the island of Anglesey, he investigates the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel with additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in m December 2011.

Mark visits Holyhead in Anglesey to talk ferries, foot nibbling, and Kate and Wills.

He covers the Salvation Army, prehistoric roundabouts and a rather unusual world record set in a shopping centre.

During his visit to the Hampshire town, he investigates the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel with additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011.

Mark Steel visits Basingstoke to talk roundabouts and a shopping centre record.

His bespoke stand-up show covers space travel, fairy bridges and the mystery - or otherwise - of Gef the Talking Mongoose.

As well as shedding light on less visited areas, Mark uncovers stories and experiences that resonate with us all as we recognise the quirkiness of the British way of life and the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people who have shaped where we live.

Written by Mark Steel with additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2011

Mark Steel visits Douglas on the Isle of Man to talk space travel and fairy bridges.

He creates a bespoke stand-up show for that town and performs the show in front of a local audience.

As well as shedding light on the less visited areas of Britain, Mark uncovers stories and experiences that resonate with us all as we recognise the quirkiness of the British way of life and the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people who have shaped where we live.

During the series 'Mark Steel's In Town' Mark will visit Berwick-Upon Tweed, Holyhead, Basingstoke, Douglas (Isle of Man), Bungay and Wigan.

Episode 4 - In this episode Mark performs a show for the residents of Douglas on the Isle of Man, to discuss space travel, fairy bridges and the mystery - or otherwise - of Gef the Talking Mongoose. From December 2011.

Written by Mark Steel with additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Produced by Sam Bryant.

Mark Steel creates a stand-up show for residents of Douglas on the Isle of Man.

He's talking about non-existent castles, haunted pubs and chicken roundabouts.

During his visit to the Suffolk town, he investigates the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel with additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2012.

Comedian Mark Steel visits Bungay in Suffolk to find out what makes this town distinctive.

He's talking about entering pie-eating competitions, living under floorboards, and the radicalism of George Formby.

During his visit to the Greater Manchester town, he investigates the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel with additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2012.

Mark performs in Wigan, talking about pie-eating and the radicalism of George Formby.

He discusses surrealist pirates, the dubious origins of rum butter, and the un-reassuring link between rugby and nuclear power.

During his visit to the Cumbrian coastal town, he investigates the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people - everything from rivalries, slang and traditions to the eccentricities which makes them unique.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a bespoke stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2012.

Surrealist pirates, rum butter's odd origins and what links rugby and nuclear power?

During his visit to the town on the Isle of Mull, he discusses kid's TV-rage, underwear odysseys, and supercilious sea eagles.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a bespoke stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2012.

Comedian Mark Steel visits the Isle of Mull to take a look under the surface of Tobermory.

During his visit to the town in Birmingham, he explores reggae and riots, white supremacist gardening, and how takeaway food affects the time space continuum.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a bespoke stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2012.

Comedian Mark Steel explores reggae, riots and white supremacist gardening in Handsworth.

During his visit to the town in Devon, he discusses Coleridge's embarrassing childhood, pixies, and what happens when you put five thousand people in a square with a lit tar barrel.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a bespoke stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2012.

Comedian Mark Steel visits Ottery St Mary in Devon to discuss Coleridge's childhood.

During his visit to Northamptonshire, he uncovers an unlikely town rivalry, the extraordinary story behind a baffling accent, and the truth behind the trouser press rumours...

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a bespoke stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2012.

Mark uncovers an unlikely town rivalry and the story behind a baffling accent.

During his visit to the market town in Oxfordshire, he uncovers the relationship between the Camerons, the Clarksons, and a town full of rebels.

Series in which the comedian visits towns across the UK and creates a bespoke stand-up show for the locals.

Written by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Sam Bryant

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2013.

Comedian Mark Steel visits Chipping Norton to perform a stand-up show all about the town.

As every high street slowly morphs into a replica of the next, Mark Steel's in Town celebrates the parochial, the local and the unusual. From Corby's rivalry with Kettering to the word you can't say in Portland, the show has taken in the idiosyncrasies of towns up and down the country, from Kirkwall to Penzance, from Holyhead to Bungay.

This first edition of the series comes from Glastonbury, Somerset, which lives up to every expectation of being the most new-agey, hippyish town Mark has ever visited. He talks about the Tor and King Arthur, visits the two chain shops on the High Street, is given an unusual reason for not being able to get into his dressing room, and makes a crucial mistake when it comes to cider. From January 2014.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Trudi Stevens

Producer ... Ed Morrish.

Mark Steel visits Glastonbury in Somerset for another programme of travelling stand-up.

As every high street slowly morphs into a replica of the next, Mark Steel's in Town celebrates the parochial, the local and the unusual. From Corby's rivalry with Kettering to the word you can't say in Portland, the show has taken in the idiosyncrasies of towns up and down the country, from Kirkwall to Penzance, from Holyhead to Bungay.

This edition comes from Derry/Londonderry in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, where the problems start with deciding which name to actually use. Mark also looks at the somewhat contentious history of the city, the impact of being the 2013 City of Culture, the local dialect, and the new bridge that's got everyone talking in this jam-packed half-hour show. (It would have been quicker, but he used the local trains.) From January 2014.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Trudi Stevens

Producer ... Ed Morrish.

The history, local dialect and the new bridge.

As every high street slowly morphs into a replica of the next, Mark Steel's in Town celebrates the parochial, the local and the unusual. From Corby's rivalry with Kettering to the word you can't say in Portland, the show has taken in the idiosyncrasies of towns up and down the country, from Kirkwall to Penzance, from Holyhead to Bungay.

This edition comes from St Davids, Pembrokeshire, which is technically a city - with the emphasis on the technically. He discusses lifeboats, art and wildlife, and discovers that in this sleepy coastal community, they are sometimes very rude but sometimes very, very friendly. Almost too friendly. But only if you're into that sort of thing. From January 2014.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Trudi Stevens

Producer ... Ed Morrish.

Mark's travelling stand-up town show arrives in coastal Pembrokeshire.

As every high street slowly morphs into a replica of the next, Mark Steel's in Town celebrates the parochial, the local and the unusual. From Corby's rivalry with Kettering to the word you can't say in Portland, the show has taken in the idiosyncrasies of towns up and down the country, from Kirkwall to Penzance, from Holyhead to Bungay.

This edition comes from Southall in Middlesex, which is also known as 'little India' due to the large Asian community there. Mark tried the local food - Jalebi, Paan, Pakora - that can seem alien to someone who grew up in 1960s Kent. The twin landmarks of Heathrow Airport and the Sikh temple dominate the area, with the latter proving more popular as Mark also discusses football, astrology and bank openings. From January 2014.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Trudi Stevens

Producer ... Ed Morrish.

Mark Steel visits Southall in Middlesex for another programme of travelling stand-up.

As every high street slowly morphs into a replica of the next, Mark Steel's in Town celebrates the parochial, the local and the unusual. From Corby's rivalry with Kettering to the word you can't say in Portland, the show has taken in the idiosyncrasies of towns up and down the country, from Kirkwall to Penzance, from Holyhead to Bungay.

This edition comes from Birkenhead, Wirral, where the landscape may be dominated by the shipyard but the local life has also included monks, a 'Bantam Army', one of the quirkiest bands in the country, and a pub inside a barbershop. You will also find out why this edition of Mark Steel's In Town was probably the inspiration for Woody Allen's Manhattan. From February 2014.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Trudi Stevens

Producer ... Ed Morrish.

Mark visits Birkenhead, Wirral, where the local life has included monks and a Bantam Army.

As every high street slowly morphs into a replica of the next, Mark Steel's in Town celebrates the parochial, the local and the unusual. From Corby's rivalry with Kettering to the word you can't say in Portland, the show has taken in the idiosyncrasies of towns up and down the country, from Kirkwall to Penzance, from Holyhead to Bungay.

This final edition of the series comes from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, the historical home of Luddism and rugby league. From February 2014.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Trudi Stevens

Producer ... Ed Morrish.

Mark Steel visits Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, the home of Last of the Summer Wine.

Mark Steel returns with a sixth series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

In the first programme, Mark visits the Lancashire Seaside Town of Fleetwood, the first planned town of the Victorian era. Home of Fisherman's Friend lozenges, the first female professional boxer Jane Couch, and trams. Originally built as a port to be the main stop off point between London and Scotland before railway engineers spoilt all that by building a line through the lake district. Mark discovers a proud town full of optimistic people, that is, until you mention Blackpool.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Stirling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

Mark Steel visits the Lancashire seaside town of Fleetwood and performs for the locals.

Mark visits the Leicestershire Town where he discovers that as well as being the home of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and Stilton Cheese, it's also coincidentally, been officially ranked the most obese area of Leicestershire. He looks at the history of fox hunting in the area, meets several eccentric local residents including a crime fighting milk man and he tries to get to the bottom of who and what is the Melton Mowbray Town Estate, a mysterious organisation established in 1549.

Mark Steel's sixth series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Stirling

Producer ... Carl Cooper.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2015.

Mark Steel visits the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray and performs for the locals.

Mark visits the Shropshire Town of Shrewsbury, birthplace of Charles Darwin and home to the oldest building in the world to house a McDonalds.

Mark finds Shrewsbury to be a beautiful place with an identity crisis. Once in Wales, but now in England, Shrewsbury is a peaceful town with a bloody history. As one local points out, 'We killed Owain Glyndwr outside WH Smith'.

An Idyllic setting in a loop of the river Severn, with its beautiful public gardens designed by Percy Thrower, patrolled daily by a Croatian nightclub bouncer.

Voted the politest town in Britain, the locals have very little to complain about. Apart from the disagreements over the buildings... and the statues... and the one-way system... and most of all, how to pronounce the name of the place.

Mark Steel's sixth series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015. .

Mark Steel visits the Shropshire town of Shrewsbury and performs for the local residents.

Mark Steel visits the County Durham town of Barnard Castle. A picturesque place - home to a castle, friendly locals and one of the most impressive and surprising museums on earth (really, it's ridiculous). In spite of all this, hardly anyone knows the town exists. Attempting to reach 'Barney' by public transport is not an easy task, taking so long that Mark begins to wonder if in fact it is a real place at all.

Mark speaks to local policeman PC Steven Purchase about the alarmingly low levels of crime in the area; marvels at the majesty of a silver, clockwork swan and tries to get to the bottom of why the people of Barnard Castle seem to keep the place such a secret.

Mark Steel returns for a sixth series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015,.

Mark Steel visits the County Durham town of Barnard Castle and performs for the locals.

Mark Steel visits the Renfrewshire town of Paisley that's definitely not in Glasgow. The largest town in Scotland, Paisley has a rich history; being at the centre of the weaving industry it gave its name to the famous Paisley pattern, as well as being the site of a landmark legal battle involving a snail in a bottle of ginger beer which led to a change in consumer law. More recently, Paisley elected Mhairi Black, the youngest MP since 1832.

Whilst in town Mark visits a 'Car Park In The Sky', has a wander round a 12th century Abbey with alien gargoyles and ends up having a game of pool with a dog called Murphy.

Mark Steel returns for a sixth series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

Mark Steel visits the Renfrewshire town of Paisley and performs for the locals.

For the final episode, Mark Steel visits Alderney in the Channel Islands. After a terrifying ride in a tiny yellow plane called Joey, Mark spends his first day on the island trying to buy new trousers (there is no causal connection between these two events). It's not the easiest place to buy trousers, he eventually gets a pair with zips on from a bicycle shop.

Mark meets an organic pic farmer who is also a radiologist, gets lost on a guided nature walk and visits an a old Nazi bunker which is now an Aussie BBQ hang out. Blond Hedgehogs, seven species of dragonfly, beaches, bird life and tax bonuses. What a strange place. Lovely though, and worth the effort to get to.

Mark Steel's sixth series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015. .

Mark Steel performs for the locals of Saint Anne, Alderney, in the Channel Islands.

Mark Steel returns for a seventh series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

In the first programme, Mark visits the Greater Manchester town of Stockport, once the centre of the hatting industry.

He takes a trip on the infamous 192 bus, visits the world famous hat museum and tries to get to the bottom of how one of its suburbs ended up with an infestation of marauding peacocks.

In this series Mark visits Stockport in Greater Manchester, Colchester in Essex, Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, Lynton in North Devon and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016.

~Mark Steel's In Town arrives in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Mark Steel returns for a seventh series of the award-winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

'The oldest hot cross bun in the world was baked in Colchester'

Mark visits the Essex town of Colchester and walks through the streets where 'Emperor Claudius once rode triumphantly on the first elephant in Britain', before Boudicca burnt the place to the ground, that was. He visits 'Jumbo', the town's iconic, Victorian water tower and he delves into the history of Colchester Zoo. Mark also discovers how several nursery rhymes have their origins in Colchester and he investigates the town's rivalry with Chelmsford.

In this series Mark visits Stockport in Greater Manchester, Colchester in Essex, Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, Lynton in North Devon and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Stirling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016. .

Mark Steel visits the Essex town of Colchester and performs for the locals.

Mark visits the beautiful Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge, where he discovers how this former mill town and one time home of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath become the new age, multi cafe, hippie friendly, lesbian capital of Britain that it is today.

Mark Steel's award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Stirling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Mark Steel visits the Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge and performs for the locals.

He takes a trip on a river boat, rides the longest single truss escalator in the world and spends an evening in and the suburb of New Malden, home to the largest population of South Koreans outside Korea where he samples the delights of Kimchi and sings in a Noraebang.

Mark Steel's seventh series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Stirling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016..

Mark Steel visits the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and performs for the locals.

Mark visits the lovely seaside towns of Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon, lovely that is until he mentions the goats, then the rest of the show doesn't go entirely to plan.

Mark Steel's seventh series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Stirling

Producer ... Carl Cooper

A BBC Radio Comedy production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016. .

Mark Steel visits Lynton in North Devon and performs for the local residents.

In the last episode of the series, Mark visits the British overseas territory of Gibraltar where he performs in the spectacular setting of St Michael's Cave, inside The Rock. He explores Gibraltar's relationship with Spain, visits a British phone box, has some British fish and chips and encounters some not so British monkeys.

Mark Steel's seventh series of the award winning show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness, and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

A BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016.

Mark Steel visits the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar and performs for the locals.

In this first episode Mark visits Bedford.

Everyone's heard of Bedford but not many seem to know where it is or what goes on there. It is a town full of surprises; it has the highest concentration of Italians in the country, it is the home of the biggest airship in the world and it has a museum dedicated to a cult called The Panacea Society, who believe The Garden of Eden is actually in Bedford.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager ... Jerry Peal

Producer ... Carl Cooper

Picture Credit ... Tom Stanier.

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2017.

~Mark Steel's In Town returns for an 8th series. First stop, Bedford.

Written and performed by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Produced by Carl Cooper.

Mark Steel visits Bedford, uncovering some surprises and performing a bespoke stand-up show for the residents. From 2017.

Everyone's heard of Bedford but not many seem to know where it is or what goes on there?

Mark Steel returns with the 8th series of his award-winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

In this first episode Mark discovers Bedford is a town full of surprises.

Producer: Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2017.

Matlock Bath is a seaside town that is nowhere near the sea. Here, Mark visits the National Stone Centre, where there aren't any stones. And he has fish and chips in a chip shop, of which there are hundreds. He also takes a trip up the cable cars to The Heights of Abraham and he talks to a man who is the only human ever to enter the Bonsall World Championship Hen Races.

The eighth series of Mark's award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager ... Jerry Peal

Producer ... Carl Cooper

Picture Credit ... Tom Stanier

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2017.

Mark Steel visits the Derbyshire town of Matlock Bath and performs for the locals.

The 8th series of Mark's award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Mark Steel visits Derbyshire's towns Matlock and Matlock Bath, performing a bespoke stand-up show for the residents. From 2017.

Mark's award-winning series travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness.

Written and performed by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Producer: Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2017.

Inverness is the 2nd happiest place in Britain, according to some polls, but Mark finds them to be a bit grumpy if the truth be known... some of them anyway... some of them are marvellous. He meets Sheena from the local taxi firm who tells a story about a fib she told to a tourist, and he meets Steve the Nessie Hunter, a man who has lived in a van on the shores of Loch Ness for 26 years.

The 8th series of Mark Steele's award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager ... Jerry Peal

Producer ... Carl Cooper

Picture Credit ... Tom Stanier

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in Decenber 2017.

Mark Steel visits Inverness in the Highlands and performs for the locals.

Written and performed by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Production co-ordinator: Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager: Jerry Peal

Picture Credit: Tom Stanier

Producer: Carl Cooper

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

Mark Steel visits Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland, performing a bespoke stand-up show for the residents. From 2017.

Mark Steele's award-winning series travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness.

Mark Steel with his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

In this episode Mark visits Portishead in Somerset

Portishead is near Bristol, but it definitely isn't Bristol. You can get to Bristol from there if you like, but it isn't that easy. It has a lovely Marina, a boating lake, a lido and peculiar stationers shop with too many rooms. It also has a plethora of groups and societies including a marvellous bunch of people who save toads and frogs from getting run over. Oh, and newts.

Eddie Large and Mike Baldwin from Coronation Street live there as well.

*(Not together)

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager ... David Thomas

Producer ... Carl Cooper

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017.

Mark Steel visits Portishead in Somerset and performs for the locals.

Picture Credit ... Tom Stanier.

Mark Steel visits Portishead (not Bristol!) in Somerset, performing a bespoke stand-up show for the residents. From 2017.

He talks to a man who painted himself blue and walked naked through the town as part of the Sea of Hull installation, samples the delights of Chip Spice and patties and gets to the bottom of why they call their aquarium a submarium.

Mark's 8th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager ... Jerry Peal

Producer ... Carl Cooper

Picture Credit ... Tom Stanier

A BBC Studio production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in February 2018.

Mark Steel visits Hull and performs a bespoke comedy show for the local residents.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Produced by Carl Cooper

Mark Steel visits former City of Culture and white phone box haven, Hull, performing a bespoke show for residents. From 2018.

Ventor has a microclimate, subsidence, and the residents claim that on some days they can see France reflected upside down in the sky.

Mark concludes the 8th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

Written and performed by ... Mark Steel

Additional material by ... Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator ... Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager ... Jerry Peal

Producer ... Carl Cooper

Picture Credit ... Tom Stanier

A BBC Studio production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2018.

Mark Steel visits Ventnor on the Isle of Wight and performs for the local residents.

Written and performed by Mark Steel.

Additional material by Pete Sinclair.

Production co-ordinator: Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager: Jerry Peal

Producer: Carl Cooper

Mark Steel visits Ventnor on the Isle of Wight and performs a bespoke comedy show for the local residents. From 2018.

In the first episode Mark visits Hastings.

Hastings is mainly known for its famous battle, but they don't like to go on about that. Apart from over seventy businesses with 1066 in the title, you hardly see it mentioned. A lot has happened there since 1066 though; they have an annual Pirates Day, for example, where everyone dresses as pirates and gets drunk. They have Jack in the Green day, where everyone paints themselves green and gets drunk. They also have a statue of a giant winkle, an alley under the prom with a spectacular light show and there are lots of lovely pubs too, where you can watch one of their thousands of bands... and get drunk. Oh, and there's a building supplier called William the Concreter.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator, Hayley Sterling / Beverly Tagg

Sound Manager, Jerry Peal

Producer, Carl Cooper

Picture Credit, Tom Stanier

Mark Steel is back In Town for a ninth series. First stop, Hastings.

In this episode Mark visits King's Lynn.

King's Lynn has an apostrophe. And a river. And a traffic island full of rabbits. Mark has a delightful trip on a ferry.

And the Queen often visits the town on her way to Sandringham.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator, Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager, Jerry Peal

Producer, Carl Cooper

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2019.

Mark Steel visits the Norfolk town of King's Lynn and performs for the locals.

In this episode Mark visits Carlisle on the Scottish border and discovers why the whole place stinks of biscuits. He also comes across a cursing stone.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator, Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager, Jerry Peal

Producer, Carl Cooper

Picture Credit, Tom Stanier

Mark Steel visits Carlisle in Cumbria and performs for the locals.

Mark Steel returns to Radio 4 with the ninth series of his award-winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

In this episode Mark visits Aberystwyth in Ceredigion, Wales. He visits the National Library of Wales in search of books, which is a harder task than you would imagine. They do have The Holy Grail in there though, so that makes up for it. He speaks to some students, avoids some dangerous seagulls and discovers why Aber is the 'Athens of Wales'.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator, Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager, Jerry Peal

Producer, Carl Cooper

Picture Credit, Tom Stanier

Mark Steel visits Aberystwyth and performs a bespoke comedy show for the local residents

In this episode Mark visits the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire... and he manages to get out alive.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator, Hayley Sterling

Sound Manager, Jerry Peal

Producer, Carl Cooper

Picture Credit, Tom Stanier

Mark Steel visits The Forest of Dean and performs for the local residents.

For the first ever outdoor Mark Steel's In Town episode, and Radio 4 Comedy's first ever COVID-friendly audience show, what better place to start than on Brighton beach?

Famous for its pavilion, piers and progressive nature as well as for being the playground of George, Prince Regent, Brighton welcomes Mark where he performs on the pebbles, accompanied by the sound of the waves, with a busy zip-wire ride and squawking seagulls overhead. A first for the show but a completely normal day in life of the people of Brighton.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator Beverly Tagg

Sound Manager, Jerry Peal

Producer, Carl Cooper

Picture Credit, Tom Stanier

A BBC Studios Production

Mark Steel is back In Town with some outdoor shows. First stop, Brighton beach.

Mark Steel is back In Town performing a special, Covid-friendly outdoor show on the beach in Brighton.

The bubonic plague didn't stop Shakespeare from working so for this second outdoor show, Mark performs on a tree stump in The Dell Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon in front of a small but lovely local crowd.

In between being interrupted by geese, Mark asks the people gathered on the grass in the RSC's outdoor performance area on the banks of the River Avon, just by the church where Shakespeare is buried, across from the Shakespeare ice-cream boat, not far from the Hamlet statue, if they've noticed any sort of theme to the place.

Mark also looks at what else Stratford has to offer and visits the Butterfly Farm, the Tudor World museum and he discovers that the town was also once the home of the Teletubbies.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator Beverly Tagg

Sound Manager, Jerry Peal

Producer, Carl Cooper

Picture Credit, Tom Stanier

A BBC Studios Production

Mark Steel is back In Town with some outdoor shows. This week he's in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Mark Steel is back In Town performing a special, Covid-friendly outdoor show from a tree stump in a field in Stratford-upon-Avon

Following two COVID-friendly live outdoor episodes Mark is back for a special, one-off show performed to a remote, virtual audience where he'll be talking about some of the places he has visited over the course of 10 series of Mark Steel's in Town. He'll explore what's happened since his visits and tell us about some of the things that never made it in to the broadcast shows.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Production co-ordinator Beverly Tagg

Sound Manager, Marc Willcox

Producer, Carl Cooper

Picture Credit, Tom Stanier

A BBC Studios Production

Mark Steel is back for a remotely recorded virtual episode.

A BBC Studios Production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2020.

The full box set of all episodes (with well over 50 towns visited) is available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Written by and starring...Mark Steel

With additional material from Pete Sinclair

Production Coordinator...Beverly Tagg

Producer...Julia McKenzie

A BBC Studios Production.

Mark travels to former coal town Blyth in Northumberland to uncover stories and characters

The full box set of all episodes (with well over 50 towns visited) is available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Written by and starring...Mark Steel

With additional material from Pete Sinclair

Production Coordinator...Beverly Tagg

Producer...Julia McKenzie

A BBC Studios Production.

Mark travels to East London town Walthamstow to discover its character.

The full box set of all episodes (with well over 50 towns visited) is available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Written by and starring...Mark Steel

With additional material from Pete Sinclair

Production Coordinator...Beverly Tagg

Producer...Julia McKenzie

A BBC Studios Production.

Mark travels to the North Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby

'Ay up me duck'

Mark Steel is back with the 12th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.

In this first episode Mark visits Nottingham, a contrarian city, full of heroes, rebels, caves and lovers of mushy peas. He learns about local legends, Robin Hood, Lord Byron, DH Lawrence, Brian Clough, and the most famous of all, Frank the xylophone player. He looks at the history of the Luddites, the cheese riots and visits three pubs that are all the oldest in the country.

As well as Nottingham, In this series, Mark be popping to the Isles of Scilly, Tring, Salisbury, Newport and Paris. And for the first time, there will be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe

Production co-ordinator Katie Baum

Sound Manager Jerry Peal

Producer Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Mark Steel is back in town. First stop, Nottingham.

Mark Steel is back with the 12th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.

In this second episode Mark travels to Tring in Hertfordshire, home of the Natural History Museum, former private museum of Walter Rothschild, where he goes to see the exhibit of fleas dressed as Mexicans.

In this series, Mark will also be popping to Nottingham, The Isles of Scilly, Salisbury, Newport and Paris. And for the first time, there will be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe

Production co-ordinator Katie Baum

Sound Manager Jerry Peal

Producer Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Mark Steel visits Tring in Hertfordshire and performs for a local audience.

Mark Steel is back with the 12th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.

In this third episode Mark visits The Isles of Scilly.

In this series, Mark will also be popping to Nottingham, Tring, Salisbury, Newport and Paris. And for the first time, there will be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe

Production co-ordinator Katie Baum

Sound Manager Jerry Peal

Producer Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Mark Steel visits The Isles of Scilly and performs for a local audience.

In this fourth episode Mark visits Salisbury in Wiltshire

In this series, Mark will also be popping to Nottingham, Tring, The Isles of Scilly, Newport and Paris. And for the first time, there will be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe

Production co-ordinator Katie Baum

Sound Manager Jerry Peal

Producer Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Mark Steel visits Salisbury in Wiltshire and performs for a local audience.

Mark Steel is back with the 12th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.

In this fifth episode Mark visits Newport in South Wales.

In this series, Mark will also be popping to Nottingham, Tring, The Isles of Scilly, Salisbury and Paris. And for the first time, there will be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe

Production co-ordinator Katie Baum

Sound Manager Jerry Peal

Producer Carl Cooper

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Mark Steel visits Newport in Wales and performs for a local audience.

Mark Steel is back with the 12th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.

In this final episode Mark visits Paris. Yeah, that Paris. The one in France. Where he performs on a boat on the river Seine.

In this series, Mark also popped to the Nottingham, Tring, The Isles of Scilly, Salisbury, and Newport. And for the first time, there will be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.

Written and performed by Mark Steel

Additional material by Pete Sinclair

Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe

Production co-ordinator Katie Baum

Sound Manager Jerry Peal

Producer Carl Cooper

Producer Richard Morris

With special thanks to Mark's French teacher Fatima Belaouzi

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Mark Steel visits Paris in France and performs for a local audience.