"I've spoken at lots of demonstrations and union meetings and protests, and appeared at quite a few benefits, and yet capitalism still seems to rule the world. Maybe I'm a jinx."

Mark Steel has published a few books, written and presented radio and telly shows, and has been a columnist for The Guardian, Socialist Worker and The Independent.

Bafta-nominated Mark Steel Lectures
Mark took his famous Lectures down to the 2008 Latitude Festival.As one reviewer put it,
"what Steel does best - and every history teacher should sit up and take notice - is to identify with even the most dry historical concept and creating an aura that its interesting while providing most of the audience with their first history lesson in over a decade"
Hear clips from Mark's BAFTA nominated lecture series. The Mark Steel Lecture: Ludwig Van Beethoven was nominated for The Comedy Award at the Sony Awards 2003.
Mark Steel Lectures YouTube clips

A great show, delivered with passion, very funny and with a bit of history thrown in. What more could you want? - The judges

Mark's new book, What's Going On? The Meanderings of a Comic Mind in Confusion was published on August 4 2008. You can order a copy from Amazon.co.uk.

Vive La Revolution: a Stand-up History of the French Revolution is out now, pubSlished by Scribner UK.

If only all subversives were like him NME

He's a man with a passionate desire to communicate his ideas, who is also very funny The Guardian