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Modern life is Steelish ... Comedian promises a night out and a bit more

- ■ PHIL CREIGHTON

COMEDIAN Mark Steel is preparing to go back on the road this autumn, and will be visiting the Corn Exchange as part of his tour.

The new show, An Evening and A Little Bit of a Morning, is a bit of a yell and a cheer.

He says that currently, that’s the way it is.

There’s the modern world in which you spend so long trying to work out iTunes, that it’s easier to form a band and learn the songs.

But there’s also so much to be delighted with. Like the fact that everyone in Northampto­n knows the sign that says ‘Family Planning Advice – Use Rear Entrance’.

Then there’s the crazy story of being brought up in a working-class street in Kent, to discover his natural father was a millionair­e backgammon player who was best mates with Lord Lucan.

Mark says: “I’ve come to terms with the fact I’m a heap of contradict­ions, trying to stay young while being unable to log into any website.

“Trying to be respectabl­e and mainstream (in this show there will even be a piano and a bit of singing), until I can’t help breaking into a steaming rant that would get me locked away somewhere secure if it wasn’t on a stage.

“And this is stand-up, so whatever has happened in the room, in the town or in the world that day will almost certainly be in the show.”

He adds: “I’ll try to keep it to a decent length, but it could so easily end up as an evening and part of the next day.”

Mark is a regular on BBC shows including Have I Got News For You, QI and BBCR4’s News Quiz.

He has been named newspaper columnist of the year and is author of the awardwinni­ng audiobook Who Do I Think I Am.

He will be at Newbury’s

Corn Exchange on Saturday, September 10.

For more details, or to book, log on to: cornexchan­genew.com

 ?? ?? AUTUMN PROMISE:
Mark Steel is preparing to visit Newbury this autumn
AUTUMN PROMISE: Mark Steel is preparing to visit Newbury this autumn

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