Mark Steel's In Town

Mark Steel's in Town drops into Dumfries and Kirkwall

For Mark Steel's in Town, the comic drops into six UK locations to discover what makes them and their inhabitants peculiarly unique.

Stand-up almost always fails on radio, simply because at some point during the transfer between stage and studio, a keen comedy producer decides that there should be a concept. Why not have the comedian pretend to be an agony aunt? Or get the audience to shout out news topics? Or - and this is truly shuddersome - how about taking a few jokes and turning them into sketches?

Mark Steel's in Town has the dreaded concept: veteran comic Mark Steel turns up at a nondescript UK municipality, spends time there and creates a bespoke stand-up show. But this concept works because we hear none of the research, nothing of Mark chatting to locals, hanging out in local libraries and pubs. We just get a straightforward stand-up show with a receptive audience. It's great.

On Wednesday, in the first of his new series, Steel took us to Dartford in Kent. The resulting very funny half-hour took in gypsy tart, the pedants' revolt and - I was very impressed by this - an email from Mick Jagger, on holiday in Mustique, comparing the joys of his vacation location to the delights of Dartford, where he was born. Neither snotty nor sycophantic, Steel tied it all together with generous humour. Next week he visits my home town of Wilmslow. I am on tenterhooks (most uncomfortable, I must say).

Radio Review: Mark Steel's in Town

A little local knowledge helps Mark Steel dish the dirt on Dartford, writes Elisabeth Mahoney.

Mark Steel in "The Knightsbridge of the north"

Mark Steel was in town last night to perform his stand up comedy show all about Wilmslow and Alderley Edge.



A new series and rabbits and Chas 'n' Dave

A few weeks ago I began the awkward business of starting work on a second series.

A wry look at life on Portland

Comedian Mark Steel won over Portlanders with a wry look at island life.

His routine, which will be broadcast on Radio 4 next Wednesday, featured the Echo's Portland Correspondent Hilda Swinney and local historian Stuart Morris.

Mark Steel says Merthyr Tydfil has lost its fighting spirit

Comedian Mark Steel's current Radio 4 series sees him performing bespoke gigs in Britain's less celebrated towns. Gavin Allen talks to him about tonight's show which he recorded in Merthyr Tydfil.

Mark Steel interview

Comedian Mark Steel talks about his latest radio venture, his reality show dreams with Anne Widdecombe, and what he's up to next...

And I should mention Mark Steel's In Town, in which the comedian visits small towns across the UK and tailor-makes a stand-up routine for the locals. Last week was Boston, which bore Steel's mickey-taking about its lack of hills with amusement. A simple idea, kindly and wittily executed by another unfashionably humane Englishman. Thank Gaia they still exist.

Mark Steel gets the Yorkshire relish

No Yorkshire stereotype was left untapped when Mark Steel tried to make them laugh in Skipton - and succeeded.