Mark Steel on stand-up, socialism, and being adopted | Unfiltered with James O'Brien #41

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It’s a laugh-packed interview this week! James O’Brien chats to comedian Mark Steel about growing up in a town that was boring by design, the hilarious misadventures that come with living in a squat, Jeremy Corbyn and left-wing politics, and his varying degrees of success in trying to trace his biological parents. Oh, and Mark has possibly the deepest voice ever recorded on a podcast. Enjoy! #Unfiltered
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[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

Bring back Mark Steel Lectures on TV!!! Love them so much!!!

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

Thanks :D I'd love to see a new series on a new collection historical figures but also maybe some kinda Mark Steel Lecture on current-ish events...cough Brexit cough. While his position would be obvious, he could still give a funny account of what actually happened, and all the bullshit afterwards. I think people would find it refreshing and useful.

[@JohnSmith-vy4lh]

Communism is socialism in a rush .

[@keithashley6298]

I could listen to Mark Steel all day, great bloke and so funny.

[@newforestpixie5297]

I’m amazed that he doesn’t actually look at all like Eric Sykes 🙄

[@George6r4]

This needed to be at least another hour longer.

[@TheNadiabear]

Wonderful, I​ could have watched for another hour. Laughed so much just at Mark Steel laughing.

[@Dogboy73]

Mark's recounting of the 'I don't want to go to France' guest on Jame's LBC show had me in stitches. Wonderful stuff :D

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

My two favourite people in the world of UK political journalism!

[@juliewake4585]

It was lovely to see Mark again. I saw him at a JC4PM event all those years ago and he was wonderful. I’d forgotten about his Radio 4 programme where he visits a certain town: I’ll have to check it out again.

[@juliewake4585]

Oh dear. I’ve got near the end and I realised that this is several years ago. I wonder what he would say now?

[@newforestpixie5297]

I’ve never actually seen his face and am disappointed that he doesn’t actually resemble Eric Sykes 🙄

[@johna5635]

@@juliewake4585 If you want to know what he would say now, he does a weekly podcast called "What The F*** Is Going On?"

[@juliewake4585]

@@johna5635 cheers

[@petrichor649]

Mark comes across so well.

[@MrTumshie]

I could watch/listen to these two chatting for hours without ever getting bored. Been a fan of Mark Steel since the late 80's, James O'Brien a bit more recently, and the two of them together were very funny and very entertaining.

[@allypoum]

He's so right about the violence. I was beaten on a regular and frequent basis growing up in the 60s and 70s, and both institutions and society at large were undoubtedly more openly and corporally violent.

[@allypoum]

Nice sensible good faith argument so typical of today's right. Not only nasty and obviously intended to intimidate (bad fail on that count sweetcheeks) but catastrophically wrong - this is the flag of POUM the antifascist militia under which George Orwell fought in the Spanish Revolution alongside members of my own family and which was so anti-Stalinist that their leader, Andreu Nin, was arrested, imprisoned, tortured and finally executed - by the very Stalinist 'Bolsheviks' you seem to accuse me of being. Not just nasty but also fucking stupid. Hey ho another day in YT comments....

[@urbanastro4701]

I love the fact that Mark knew all about the Cricket Club in Kidderminster, absolute legend

[@fredrodgers3155]

Mark Steel has been at the top of his game for years. A truly funny, intelligent man of the people.

[@sunnysjwinter]

The best content leaves you wanting more. The moment every Unfiltered episode ends, I immediately want the next one. Wonderful, always!

[@lindapow9351]

Enjoyed listening James

[@KensalRider]

Fucking brilliant. That made my night. What an ending! What an ending!

[@DavoidJohnson]

Infectious as ever. Mark gives us the happy side of life without fail.

[@tossell1969]

This was epic. And the ending....fancy saving that until the last few minutes, eh? Ha. We need more people like Mark but in politics. Thanks also to Mark for the Caroline shout out. Such an amazing politician. The Greens are the way forward

[@johnredfern448]

So much good stuff in this interview - Loved it!

[@mycroft1905]

Wow! I needed that. Thank you, gentlemen. TFP.

[@maa5712]

I was having a very very shite day and the lord lukan joke just made up my day..this world and politics in britain makes u so hopeless but james and mark give u that little bit of optimism that things might be alright

[@matthewmoggridge5221]

Absolutely fantastic interview. James O'Brien, what a great interviewer, and Mark Steel, what a great, great man. Not only a tremendous comedian, but a very good writer too. Anyway, it's getting late, I'm going to bed.

[@ruthfhunt2613]

Mark Steel one of my heroes talking to my favourite journalist - who I wish was still on Newsnight

[@applemanuk]

Absolutely brilliant. This hour long interview is a awesome and a fantastic example of how the gems that you find on-line are a million times better than anything you find on mainstream TV.

[@alanchriston6806]

Great , very funny and clever guy is mark and James , newsnight was better for him.😊

[@andybrown9427]

Two of my favourite humans.

[@pitchforkcustom]

superb. ❤

[@carlslyg]

Great interview, keep up the good work James! Hilarious and perceptive at the same time.

[@alanoneill3065]

What clever witty man!

[@pjdonnelly92]

As a nurse 43:20 spot on Mark. Xx

[@bennewinn1101]

Mark Steel natural comunertater. Clever humour.

[@andymoody8363]

Just the best, great interview James. Mark is an absolute diamond.

[@dardobartoli]

Thanks for sharing this, love Mark to bits, seen 3 shows and they were wonderful.

[@MartinandFreddie]

Saw Mark when he did his French Revolution tour,a few years ago, in Burnley. Met him afterwards, a truly lovely bloke

[@ThePaul2901]

If you haven't seen Mark Steel live go to his 2023 Tour page and book tickets, he's hilarious. I went to see him in Liverpool and my sides hurt by the end of the show. His new tour seems to be avoiding the north this year so I'll have to see him next time.

[@DavoidJohnson]

Worth remembering that Sean Connery was also a milkman.

[@andrewgoddard6005]

Mark Steel episode 2 needed surely. Hilarious hour of doing nothing but LAUGH.

[@jackiespendlow5297]

Mark Steel is so real and funny. He should be in politics now.

[@MrRailjunkie]

Agreed

[@joeleigh-corrigan7762]

I love Mark Steel. I’ve seen him live twice, he was fantastic.

[@MrRailjunkie]

I've seen him too once & yeah I agree he was great as comedians on the left often are in my opinion.

[@newforestpixie5297]

He’s correct kids . Most or a heck of a lot of low income homes didn’t have the everyday things which middle class folk took for granted like telephones , washing machines ,colour TVs & VCRs until these things became cheaper in the early 1980s along with most tech. By the time we bought our 1st telephone in 86 ( single parent household mind you) my posh chums’ parents were buying their 1st home computers ... 😁

[@TheNadiabear]

Not even started and am so looking forward to this one......

[@dickiedogs727]

Outstanding !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Atikusiuuu]

I've never clicked on a video so fast. Definitely lived up to the hype as well.

[@kevingiblin4122]

The good guys ❤😂😮😅😊

[@markshirley01]

Really enjoyed that - thanks

[@lifetothepoweroffood6106]

So funny - tears as well

[@voltaire3001]

FROM: USA - LOVE Mark Steel !! Don't ever go away !!

[@jeremygough1387]

Love the honesty. It's refreshing.

[@grantbangkok]

Superb interview..just what I needed right now.

[@christopherjhall]

My mum runs a book club in Blackpool. People in the provenances can read!

[@nightjarflying]

You mean "provinces" - are you sure people can read in the "provenances"?

[@danielminor1693]

I lean to the right of centre but I've always loved Mark Steel. Top Guy 👍

[@joewakeford]

Brilliant!

[@sarahstrupinski6863]

Brilliant, Mark Steel and Joe. Have just discovered Joe's sessions and look forward to more. It would be excellent if Joe reinterviewed Mark now (2022)with all the Tory and the Mega Liar shyte! Xx

[@kevinjewitt6347]

This is my all time favourite interview on Unfiltered.

[@seanmc3735]

Although grim times back then politically, what happier time compared to now!!!

[@welshaccenttutorials3104]

Brilliant Punchline at the end.

[@pastyman001]

This is fantastic!

[@AlanReynoldsBucklandJunction]

These two should be in Government XX

[@paul8386]

Brilliant interview. Mark is a superb observationalist and even better he's brought the knuckle draggers out to comment! lol!

[@BadAlbert]

Ridiculously brilliant!

[@johngreenwood1972]

Absolute top bloke. Humorous realist par excellence.

[@silverapples75]

Bill Wyman's looking well!

[@natalielove6934]

I love this man. 💛

[@jasoncoleridge5872]

If you think Swanley and Kidderminster are bad, you should venture up Norf.. fucking hell there are towns and villages up here that don't even have elecky yet.

[@nizzla12]

Steel is okay for a Palace fan.

[@beckenhamboy1995]

pahahahahah savage :')

[@johngreenwood1972]

Great interview, completely entertaining.

[@oliviagiles]

This interview was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@shivb8312]

This felt extremely short!

[@dogphlap6749]

Good stuff.

[@batcheeboy5077]

I was at school with mark,swanley comp,in the seventys,i remember he was left wing politicaly at14

[@neilcolley25]

great mark steel

[@MsMounen]

Mark commented that the 70s was violent. I felt such relief when he said that. I was a little kid in the late 70s early 80s and all my memories of that time are infused with a sense of violence. I had thought I might have imagined it that way, but someone else has confirmed it.

[@MartinandFreddie]

I was in my ;late teens/twenties in the 70's and it really was just as he describes it. the idea of walking down the street or into central Manchester in a football shirt was ridiculous, you'd have your head kicked in. I've had full pint glasses of beer thrown at me across a club because I was talking to a girl that a particular moron fancied ! It hit her ! On the other hand, you could leave a job and walk into another one later that day, you didn't need a mortgage to have a night out. It wasn't all bad, my 70's memories are mainly very pleasant. It was certainly better than it is now, there might have been violence but it wasn't random stabbings and people generally were pleasant to each other, not snarling like they do all the time now. road rage was unheard of , so on balance i prefer then to now.

[@SkateSka]

I don't wanna go to France!!! 1000% tariffs for life!!! Winning!

[@tbeau6663]

Top man

[@kierand9410]

I wonder how his biological father and mother met. Very different worlds.

[@GOGOLH]

I'm loving this.

[@singsong7754]

Can I petition for a guest please? Can you get David Olosoga the historian please, he's got a really interesting back story

[@plbyrne]

Brilliant - both these guys are heroes.

[@vinnievector]

Thanks mark and James best hour spent for a long time.

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!

[@trevorwright6165]

well i love the mark steel in town on radio 4 extra and i now know what he looks like what a wonderful man all the very best from trev

[@alanthomas2235]

I love Mark Steel top man

[@BillyHayes79Music]

Incredible and brilliantly ironic story about Mark's dad

[@bennewinn1101]

My spelling non to good

[@znumoxlae-7826]

Why does James O’Obrien always ask people if they’re clever or not ⁉️⁉️⁉️ Does he think 🤔 💭 he’s clever or summink⁉️⁉️⁉️ What a wally ‼️‼️‼️ 😄😆🤣

[@skinnerman100]

Not half as much a wally as you pal 😂😂😂

[@znumoxlae-7826]

@@skinnerman100 , Bar steward ‼️😠😡🤬😤

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

What's with the emoticons?

[@whispjohn]

Yes Mark, I lived in Gravesend, just down the road from Swanley and had an identity problem, hasn't everywhere these days? I lived it and loved it, it made no bloody difference when we were teenagers, feeling up a birds tits behind the garages or back yard of the youth club, oh what fun we had!

[@davyjones-locker979]

Can you arrange James to interview Jacob Rees-Mogg for over an hour?

[@phil4162]

Just discovered the JOB podcast in time for him to call it a day. Two of my favourite people chatting, it was more therapeutic than Mortimer and Whitehouse go fishing. You might not want to chaps but for Christ’s sake stand for election.

[@brodie2711]

Laughed and cried just brilliant

[@MrMattkorea]

Mark Steel is the greatest living human being. That's all.

[@31Ancona]

Mark is extremely handsome.... and funny, interesting, thoughtful, politically sound. God he's gorgeous.

[@DirtiestDeeds]

"When did you realise you didn't want democratic socialism, James?"

[@Oheretic]

Oddly enough my aunt was very close friends with Francis.

[@Longshanks1956]

I thought torture was banned in this country.

[@Trajanify]

Two complete and utter wankers excellent. I will use this extraordinary exercise in self aggrandisement to motivate myself when feeling apathetic.

[@louistracy6964]

I want more on why O'B had so much animus toward Corbyn.

[@michaelwilkinson3307]

Everyone's a Tory now.

[@SamHarrisonMusic]

Mark Steel is the real deal. James O' does OK, but Mark really gets it :)

[@wildandbarefoot]

Really enjoyed that. Can't see why James is so anti Corbyn.

[@MrRailjunkie]

The two main reasons James is anti Corbyn is because of his failure to properly deal with antisemitism & his refusel to be fairly criticised & properly scrutinised in interviews instead of just preaching to the quire.

[@theonlyantony]

those expressive eyebrows.