Mark Steel's in Town

6/6 - Unst - 'The Island Above All Others'. After performing in Lerwick earlier in the series, Mark’s Shetland adventure concludes in Unst, as far north as you can get. There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC Sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinators Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for Radio 4

For the fifth stop of the series, Mark travels to Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, perched at the far edge of Britain, where everyone’s on first-name terms with the fog.It’s a place 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. This is the first of Mark’s two shows from Shetland, recorded in front of an audience in Lerwick. Later in the series he’ll also be visiting Unst, the UK’s most northerly inhabited island.This is the 14th series of Mark's award winning show where he 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. As well as Shetland, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Oakham in Rutland, Wrexham, Lewisham and Cambridge. There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC Sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinators Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for Radio 4

Mark Steel visits Cambridge and creates a show for the local audience.There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark Steel Additional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for Radio 4

Mark Steel visits Lewisham in south London and creates a show for the local audience.There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum Sound Manager Chris Maclean Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for Radio 4

Second stop of the new series is Wrexham in North Wales. Wrexham has gone from industrial workhorse to global celebrity, thanks to two Hollywood actors who bought the local football club. It’s a place where five of the Seven Wonders of Wales are apparently within walking distance of a Screwfix, where children learn “risk management” on playgrounds made from drainpipes salvaged at the council tip, and where an underground tunnel network may or may not have been built for priests sneaking to the pub... or for inmates tunnelling into prison for a game of pool.This is the 14th series of Mark's award-winning show where he 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. As well as Wrexham, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Oakham, Cambridge, Lewisham and, Lerwick and Unst in Shetland.There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for Radio 4

First stop of the new series is Oakham, nestled in the UK’s smallest county – Rutland.Rutland has a village that's proudly twinned with Paris (even if the Parisians don’t know), has Europe’s largest man-made lake (which required flooding a local village) and hangs its horseshoes the other way round (so the devil falls out, obviously).Joining Mark is Clare Balding, who’s also in town to take him on a ramble around Rutland, which you can hear in Ramblings, this Thursday on Radio 4. This is the 14th series of Mark's award winning show where he 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. As well as Oakham, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Wrexham, Cambridge, Lewisham and, Lerwick and Unst in Shetland.There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for Radio 4

Mark Steel's In Town - Coleraine"...Coleraine is a big town and is ready for City status..." This week Mark visits the town of Coleraine in Northern Ireland.This is the 13th series of Mark's award-winning show where he 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.As well as Coleraine, in this series Mark be will also be popping to Margate, Malvern, East Grinstead, Stoke-on-Trent, and Nether Edge in Sheffield.There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4

Mark Steel's In Town - Nether Edge“...a place where all the baristas know your name..."This week, Mark is in Nether Edge, a leafy suburb of Sheffield which wants to become a village. Here he samples the local honey, visits the local shops and cafes, a rum keg, the bowls club that once threw out Ronnie Wood for inappropriate behaviour, and he talks to the passionate locals about a campaign by the council to make the area less leafy by cutting down half of the trees. This is the 13th series of Mark's award-winning show where he 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.As well as Nether Edge, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Margate, Malvern, East Grinstead, Stoke-on-Trent and Coleraine in Northern Ireland.There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4

Mark Steel's in Town - Stoke-on-TrentThis week, Mark is visiting the town of Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire.This is the 13th series of Mark's award-winning show where he 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.As well as Stoke-on-Trent, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Margate, Malvern, East Grinstead, Coleraine in Northern Ireland and Nether Edge in Sheffield.There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC Sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4

This week Mark visits the West Sussex town of East Grinstead.This is the 13th series of Mark's award-winning show where he 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.As well as East Grinstead, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Margate, Malvern, Stoke-on-Trent, Coleraine in Northern Ireland and Nether Edge in Sheffield.There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4

Mark Steel's In Town - Malvern“...if ever after I'm dead you hear someone whistling this tune on the Malvern Hills, don't be alarmed, it's only me" - Edward Elgar.This week Mark visits the Malvern hills in Worcestershire. This is the 13th series of Mark's award-winning show where he 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.As well as Malvern, in this series Mark be will also be popping to Margate, Stoke-on-Trent, East Grinstead, Coleraine in Northern Ireland and Nether Edge in Sheffield. There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4

Mark Steel's In Town - Margate“...a nice spot not vulgarised by crowds of literary people...” Oscar WildeIn this first episode Mark visits the lovely seaside town of Margate in the Thanet district of Kent.A magical place 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 in a cafe for eating a "mega breakfast" in under 20 minutes.Mark visits Dreamland and its 100 year old rollercoaster, the famous Crab Museum and the historic Walpole Hotel before perfoming his show in the Cliff Bar and snooker hall under the iconic Lido Tower. This is the 13th series of Mark's award winning show where he 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.As well as Margate, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Stoke on Trent, Malvern, East Grinstead and Coleraine in Northern Ireland. There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl CooperA BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4

Mark Steel's In Town - ParisMark 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 special extended edition of the programme Mark performs the show in English and then in French, for a French-speaking audience.The English version is first and the French version starts at 35 minutes.In this series, Mark also popped to 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 SteelAdditional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe Production co-ordinator Katie Baum Sound Manager Jerry Peal Producer Carl Cooper Producer Richard MorrisWith special thanks to Mark's French teacher Fatima BelaouziA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

Mark Steel continues his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each location, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.Mark brushes up on his French and visits Paris. Yeah, that Paris. The one in France. He's set to perform an evening of comedy on board a boat on the River Seine. As he immerses himself in the French capital, he shares his thoughts on the best things in Paris.Written and performed by Mark Steel.With special thanks to Mark's French teacher Fatima Belaouzi.Additional material by Pete Sinclair.Producers: Carl Cooper and Richard MorrisA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2022.

Mark Steel continues his award-winning show travelling around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness.After thoroughly researching each town, he writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.Mark is in Newport in South Wales and uncovers some of the history and local stories and people.Written and performed by Mark Steel.Additional material by Pete Sinclair.Producer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2022.

Mark Steel continues his award-winning show travelling around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness.After thoroughly researching each town, he writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.Mark is in Wiltshire's cathedral city of Salisbury - situated near the edge of Salisbury Plain.Written and performed by Mark Steel.Additional material by Pete Sinclair.Producer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2022.

Mark Steel continues his award-winning show travelling around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness.After thoroughly researching each town, he writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.Mark arrives on the Isles of Scilly, dipping into local history and tales of shipwrecks. Written and performed by Mark SteelAdditional material by Pete SinclairProducer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in September 2022.

Mark Steel continues his award-winning show travelling around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness.After thoroughly researching each town, he writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.Mark moves on to Tring in Hertfordshire and discovers the home of the Natural History Museum, and the former private museum of Walter Rothschild, where he goes to see the exhibit of fleas dressed as Mexicans. Written and performed by Mark Steel.Additional material by Pete Sinclair.Producer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2022.

"Ay up me duck!"Mark Steel returns 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, he writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience. Mark is kicking off with a visit to Nottingham in the East Midlands. It's 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. Plus the history of the Luddites, the cheese riots and visits three pubs that are all the oldest in the country. Later in this series, Mark is off to the Isles of Scilly, Tring, Salisbury, Newport and Paris. Written and performed by Mark Steel.Additional material by Pete Sinclair.Producer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2022.

There’s one thing you definitely can’t miss in Whitby and that’s the ruined abbey up on a cliff looking down on the town. It’s also hard to miss the jawbone of a blue whale set atop the opposite hill and the fact that Dracula was a researched and written here by Bram Stoker. You’ll not go wanting if you are in search of a chip either. Mark Steel manages to dodge the seagulls and presents his findings to a local audience at The Brunswick Centre.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.

Walthamstow has got plenty going for it - "it has the requisite villagey middle-class bit, but with a proper gor-blimey guv'nor East End heart" says one newspaper article and Mark finds a town mid-gentrification. The dog track has gone, the famously long market remains but there is also a Viking Shop and an extraordinary showroom and workshop with a vast range of neon light fittings called God's Own Junkyard. There is a museum dedicated to the designer William Morris who used to live there and there's evidence of a recent war too in the form of the cycling scheme known as "mini-Holland." Hopefully Mark will tread carefully. With guest local MP Stella Creasy.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.

The famous Blyth Staithes (created for off-loading coal into ships) were the backdrop for one of the grimmest scenes in the Michael Caine classic Get Carter - the smoggy industrial view at the time described by the director as an "absolute vision of hell". Undaunted, comedian Mark Steel travels to this part of Northumberland and finds a fascinating industrial legacy, a posh pub, a very nice beach and prominent indications of its role in the first and second World Wars. Does a town blighted by so many closures show any evidence of green shoots? Mark presents his findings to a local audience at The Phoenix Theatre and as ever gets away with just the right amount of affection rudeness and we learn more about a very distinctive coastal town in the UK. 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 Steel with a short series of shows recorded during the coronavirus pandemic.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: Jerry PealProducer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios Production, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2020.

Another of Mark Steel's short series of shows recorded outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic.The bubonic plague didn't stop Shakespeare from working.So for this 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 PealProducer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios Production for BBC Radio 4 Extra, first broadcast in November 2020.

Mark Steel kicks off a short series recorded during the coronavirus pandemic. For the first ever outdoor Mark Steel's In Town episode - and BBC Radio 4 Comedy's first ever COVID-friendly audience show - what better place to start than on the beach in Brighton? The town is famous for its pavilion, piers and progressive nature as well as for being the playground of George, Prince RegentBut Mark is performing on the pebbles, accompanied by the sound of the waves, with a busy zip-wire ride and squawking seagulls overhead. It's a first for the show but a completely normal day in life of Brighton's locals. Written and performed by Mark Steel.Additional material by Pete Sinclair.Production co-ordinator: Beverly Tagg Sound Manager: Jerry PealProducer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2020.

Comedian Mark Steel visits the island of Malta and performs a bespoke stand-up show for the local audience.

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 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 CooperPicture Credit, Tom Stanier

"Croeso i Mark Steel’s in Town, Sy’n dod wythnos yma o Aberystwyth" 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 CooperPicture Credit, Tom Stanier

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 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 CooperPicture Credit, Tom Stanier

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 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 CooperFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2019.

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 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 CooperPicture Credit, Tom Stanier

Mark Steel visits Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.He's performing at the Winter Gardens, the venue of his first ever gig when he got up and told some jokes in a talent contest on a childhood holiday. 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 this series of 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 CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2018.

Mark Steel visits Hull. He has a wonderful time exploring the 2017 City of Culture exhibits as well as all the other normal stuff like the world's smallest window and white phone boxes. Mark 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 Steele's award-winning series 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.Producer: Carl CooperA BBC Studio production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2018.

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 Johnny Briggs (Coronation Street's Mike Baldwin) are famous residents. Mark Steele's award-winning series 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: David Thomas Picture Credit: Tom StanierProducer: Carl CooperFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

Mark visits Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. 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. Mark Steele's award-winning series 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 Picture Credit: Tom StanierProducer: Carl CooperFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

Mark Steel visits the lovely Derbyshire towns of Matlock and Matlock Bath. 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. Mark's award-winning series 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. Producer: Carl CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 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.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.Producer: Carl Cooper A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in December 2017.

"I've done loads of these, but I've never done one where I couldn't get into my dressing room because of monkeys."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.

Don't mention the goats!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 CooperA BBC Radio Comedy production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016. .

Mark visits The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames. 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 CooperA BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016..

"That was So Hebden Bridge" 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 CooperA BBC Radio Comedy production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

Colchester - The oldest recorded town in BritainMark 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 CooperA BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016. .

"Welcome to Stockport - Home of Stockport College"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 CooperA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2016.

"Alderney. So close, so different"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 CooperA BBC Radio Comedy production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015. .

"Keep an eye on Paisley..." Benjamin DisraeliMark 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 CooperA BBC Radio Comedy Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

"Barnard Castle - The Hidden Gem"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 CooperA BBC Radio Comedy Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015,.

"Floreat Salopia - May Shrewsbury Flourish"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. .

'Melton Mowbray - Rural Capital of Food'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.

"Welcome to Fleetwood - Where Breastfeeding Is Always Welcome"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 CooperA BBC Radio Comedy Production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

Mark Steel returns to Radio 4 for a fifth 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 does a bespoke evening of comedy in each one. 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.