British Comedy Guide
The Mark Steel Lectures. Mark Steel
The Mark Steel Lectures

The Mark Steel Lectures

  • TV factual / stand-up
  • BBC Four
  • 2002 - 2006
  • 18 episodes (3 series)

Series telling the story of some of the world's greatest names, from Byron to Pankhurst, in an accessible, comic manner. Features Mark Steel and Martin Hyder.

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Episode menu

Series 3, Episode 2 - Chaplin

A comic take on Charlie Chaplin's life and achievements.

Further details

Join Mark as he charts Chaplin's course through 20th Century history, how through the initial success of the Little Tramp character he managed to negotiate the right to direct his own films and how this character came to be seen as a symbol of resistance to the regimented rules of modern society.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 2nd March 2006
Time
11pm
Channel
BBC Four
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Mark Steel Host / Presenter
Martin Hyder Ensemble Actor
Guest cast
Alfie Nicol Young Chaplin
Writing team
Mark Steel Writer
Pete Sinclair Writer
James Serafinowicz (as James Sezchuan) Writer
Production team
Becky Martin Director
Phil Bowker Producer
Emma De'Ath Executive Producer
Mobashir Dar (as Mob Dar) Executive Producer
Gayle Cope Line Producer
Jon Blow Editor
Geoff Slack Costume Designer
Sarah Burrows Make-up Designer

Press

The Mark Steel Lectures

For me, the Radio 4 series of The Mark Steel Lectures was a delight. In each episode, he proved himself to be one of the few people who can talk passionately and entertainingly about relatively academic subjects. Some were naturally more interesting than others - a subject like Aristotle is always going to be difficult to sell to a comedy audience, after all - but all were entertaining, with a good balance of facts and jokes. This was often achieved by concentrating as much on the subjects' personalities as their achievements, and usually the best moments would be the asides, reflecting how modern society would interpret each subject's activities and eccentricities.

John Phillips, Off The Telly, 2nd March 2006

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