Local comedian Susan Morrison introduced Thomas and posed the questions. Or tried to... she did well to maintain some kind of structure to the hour because once Mark is in full flow he's a hard man to interrupt!
Stories from his London childhood and the earliest influences on his political views, the magician pastor who accidentally turned him to atheism at an early age, his time at drama school (when his working class dad's biggest concern was if he had to wear tights!) and gradual move from theatre to the comedy and activism he's become famed for. Dave Allen was his first comedy hero, the subversive antithesis to the Bernard Manning's of the world. While the latter punched down at the weak, at minorities and the already voiceless, Allen hit up at the establishment, at authority. When Alexei Sayle appeared on the scene and turned that attitude up a few notches Thomas knew this was what he had to do.
There were plenty of tales of the power of the political campaigns he's been involved in, and of the dirty tricks employed by government against him and his colleagues. The story of the masses of junk mail sent to Michael Heseltine's home when he was trying to privatise the Post Office is legendary, but always worth hearing again.
In a short audience Q&A session at the end he was asked if he was optimistic or pessimistic about the current state of UK politics. He thought for a long time before replying - with no real certainty, such are the risks we now face from the rise of the far right, a gutter press that distorts and smears, and the impunity with which lies can be spread about the likes of Corbyn.
But he was positive that there are still some great investigative journalists, like Carole Cadwalladr who's done such a great job of exposing the dirty tricks and dirty money of the Leave and Trump campaigns.
An hour passed all too quickly. Funny, passionate, committed and sharp witted, Thomas is always inspiring and able to look at the wider world with a satirical eye. Long may he continue to do so.
The In Conversation With series is in the New Town Theatre at 12.00 until 26 August.
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