Steel tells the story of trying to trace his natural parents and the unexpected results of the resulting discoveries. Having always known that he was adopted he had no curiosity about his biological origins until his own son was born. Realising that his mother might well still wonder what had become of her child he begins his quest, albeit in a relatively unenthusiastic manner. It takes the best part of a decade to make real progress, but when he does the outcome easily rivals any of the revelations on the BBC's family-tracing programme. And that he almost had an Uncle Tiny.
The show is hilarious throughout, a mix of cynicism and humanity that never risks becoming overly sentimental. And there's certainly no flirting with any New Age bollocks about 'finding yourself'.
Regular fans of the man will be delighted to know that it's not all storytelling and he makes time for a few of his trademark political rants, and the show is all the better for that. And he can ad lib with the best of them, as the audience members who walked out found out. (I'm curious to know, if they had another show to go to, what could possibly be so much better than this one?)
A fascinating real world story, sound politics and truly great comedy. What's not to like?
Mark Steel : Who Do I Think I Am?, is on in Assembly Studio Two, George Square, at 20.15 until the 30th.
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