Mark Steel, comedian

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