FLICKY HARRISON learns about Mark Steel’s Hollywood dream and his fascination with French revolution

COMEDIAN Mark Steel would like to do a feature film with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, but while he is waiting for the call from Hollywood he is touring the UK with his new show.

Topping his last show, where the comedian revealed his journey to find his biological father who turned out to be a Wall Street multi-millionaire and world champion backgammon player, was always going to be a challenge.

“I couldn’t top it,’’ said Mark. “It would be easier to become an astronaut and live on a space station.’’

Nevertheless the comedian has pulled it out of the bag once again with his latest show, Every Little Thing’s Gonna Be All Right, which will be stopping off in Swindon.

“It is optimistic, showing that despite all the chaos around us at the moment the human spirit will see us through,’’ said Mark. “On the face of it everyone is annoyed; those who didn’t want to leave Europe are angry and the pro Breziteers are also angry. It’s funny, Boris Johnson and Duncan Smith saying all government reports are wrong. My show takes the premise that Britons will always find a way of jiggling through.’’

Along with presenting his BBC Radio 4 series Mark Steel’s In Town, and his BAFTA-nominated Lectures for BBC 2, the comedian also writes columns for the Independent and The Guardian. He was voted Columnist of the Year 2015.

“It’s not even my job... I’m a comedian,’’ he said.

Mark has now started filming his columns which is bringing him in a whole new generation of followers.

“Most of my audience grew up with me, but now I am getting a run of 19-year-olds. I’ll be singing with Kendrick Lamar next!’’ he said.

The comedian is a familiar face on TV shows such as Have I Got News For You, QI, Room 101 and Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

“Well, I am fairly obsessive about music, particularly Taylor Swift,’’ he said.

The Kent-born comedian is also fairly obsessed by cricket and was expelled from school for attending a cricket course without permission.

“I grew up as a Kent supporter at a time when county cricket really mattered. I do still go down every year to watch,’’ he said.

Along with his stand up shows, Mark has also written a number of books, including one of the French Revolution called Vive La Revolution in 2003.

“I was fascinated by the revolution and the characters, how different Maximilien Robespierre was to George Danton. Robespierre did not drink or misbehave, he even resisted cake, where as Danton was more often drunk than not, disappearing for three days at a time,’’ said Mark.

“The revolution had the answer to all big issues such as mental health.’’

The comedian says that he likes to keep ringing the changes in his career, writing, performing on stage and on TV to keep things fresh and interesting.

“Otherwise I would be like a bricklayer who only worked on one sort of wall, it would be a bit tedious. I need curved walls, straight walls different sorts of walls to keep the juices flowing,’’ he said.

Mark made a small foray into television acting on one of the Red Dwarf series as Ski man - a non speaking part - and says he would love to do more.

“I would love to do sit com or rom com with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep,’’ he said, before adding: “Say Hi to good old Swindon and its crazy roundabouts. I will be back soon.’’Every Little Thing’s Gonna Be All Right is at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre on March 1 at 8pm. Tickets are £18.50 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk