Mark Steel left home at 18 to escape the stifling environment of Swanley, Kent, and moved to a squat in Crystal Palace, South London, where he became involved in the punk scene and political activism.
Mark Steel's first experience with performing was at the age of eight when he wrote and recited a poem about the A to Z of animals at a holiday camp in Devon.
Mark Steel's biological father, Joe Dweck, was a multimillionaire professional gambler and a friend of Lord Lucan. Discovering his father's identity added an unexpected twist to Steel's life story, which he often incorporates into his comedy.
Mark Steel's interest in comedy was inspired by his early experiences performing, his love for making people laugh, and his exposure to the emerging alternative comedy scene in the 1980s, particularly through figures like Alexei Sayle and venues like the Comedy Store.
Mark Steel chose 'My Boy Lollipop' by Millie Small because it was the first song that sparked his affection for music when he was five years old, despite growing up in a household with little exposure to music.
Mark Steel's father suffered from mental health issues, likely bipolar disorder, and was placed in a mental home in Dartford. Steel visited him regularly and developed a closer relationship with him during this time, despite the challenging circumstances.
Mark Steel was adopted at ten days old and grew up in Swanley, Kent. After becoming a father himself, he began tracing his birth parents and eventually discovered his biological father, Joe Dweck, and learned about his birth mother, Frances, who lived in Italy.
Mark Steel's first stand-up gig was at the Dulwich Poetry Society, where he performed an angry poem about being unemployed. The audience's reaction was underwhelming, with one woman complimenting him on remembering all the words rather than engaging with his message.
Mark Steel chose 'San Quentin' by Johnny Cash because of Cash's radical and compassionate approach to protest music, particularly his performances in prisons, which resonated deeply with Steel.
Mark Steel was treated for throat cancer with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Despite the brutal treatment, he has recovered well and remains optimistic, with regular scans showing no signs of cancer.
Mark Steel is a writer, comedian and radio presenter.
His performing career began as a poet in the alternative comedy scene in the early eighties at the Comedy Store. A regular presenter on Radio 4, he began his award winning series, Mark Steel’s in Town in 2009.
Alongside his performing career, he’s been a regular newspaper columnist writing for the Guardian and Independent Newspapers. Mark was born in 1960 and adopted at ten days old by Doreen and Ernie. He grew up in Swanley, Kent and left home at 18 to live in a squat in Crystal Palace. After his own son was born, Mark spent many years tracing his birth parents and eventually met up with his genetic father who had been a professional gambler and a friend of Lord Lucan. Mark has two children and lives in London.
DISC ONE: My Boy Lollipop - Millie Small DISC TWO: Janie Jones - The Clash DISC THREE: San Quentin (Live at San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, CA - February 1969) - Johnny Cash DISC FOUR: Killing in the Name - Rage Against The Machine DISC FIVE: Trøllabundin - Eivør Pálsdóttir DISC SIX: Love Me or Leave Me - Nina Simone DISC SEVEN: Into My Arms - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds DISC EIGHT: 1977 - Ana Tijoux BOOK CHOICE: Wisden Cricketers' Almanack LUXURY ITEM: A piano CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Love Me or Leave Me - Nina Simone
Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah Taylor