First show of Mark Steel’s In Town series all about Stockport

Comedian Mark Steel’s new Radio 4 series starts tonight (Wednesday) and is all about Stockport.

Mark Steel’s In Town returns for a seventh series of the award-winning radio show that travels around the country, researching the history, heritage and culture of six towns and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for the local residents.

In the first programme of the seventh series, Mark visits Stockport, which the BBC describes as ‘once the centre of the hatting industry’ – and performs a stand-up show at The Garrick Theatre.

He also had afternoon tea at The Plaza where he met theatre manger Ted Doan.

The first show of the new season is titled ‘Welcome to Stockport – Home of Stockport College’ – the first sign many people see when they enter the town.

Mark Steel with Ted Doan at Stockport Plaza

The BBC website goes on: “Creating a bespoke stand-up set for each town, Mark performs the show in front of a local audience.

“As well as examining the less visited areas of Britain, Mark uncovers stories and experiences that resonate with us all as we recognise the quirkiness of the British way of life and the rich tapestry of remarkable events and people who have shaped where we live.

“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.”

As well as Stockport, Steel visits 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.

Mark Steel’s In Town is on Radio 4 every Wednesday at 6.30pm.