Mark Steel has revealed he has pulled out of his appearance at Southport Comedy Festival this Friday (13th October 2023) after being diagnosed with throat cancer.
The top UK comedian shared the news about his condition through his blog earlier today.
Mark had been looking forward to bringing his tour – An Evening and A Little Bit of a Morning With Mark Steel – to the Festival, which is currently taking place at Victoria Park in Southport.
The 63-year-old is now taking a six-month break from working while he undergoes treatment, as he assured fans that it is a cancer ‘that can be got rid of’.
Event organisers have sent their best wishes to Mark, who was due to make his first ever appearance at Southport Comedy Festival, along with their hopes for a good recovery for him.
All affected customers in Southport have already received refunds from their point of purchase.
Mark Steel has revealed he has been diagnosed with throat cancer after he discovered a lump in his neck while shaving.
He said he had noticed his neck ‘looking much bigger than normal’ while shaving in June, but after googling the symptoms assumed it was an infection.
However, his neck got bigger prompting him to see a doctor who booked him a scan at the hospital.
Mark recalled that during his appointment was when ‘everything changed’ after the radiologist said he would need a biopsy.
He wrote on his blog: ‘“Biopsy?” I thought, “But that’s how cancer starts. It always starts with a biopsy,’ before adding, ‘a biopsy makes everything seem grotesquely, cancerously real.’
Mark finally was diagnosed with cancer in two places, but explained the ‘primary cancer’ in his throat is ‘very treatable’.
He recounted sitting in the waiting room with his son Elliot, 26, who is also a stand-up comedian, where he told him: ‘I just want one win. I feel like a football team that’s nine games into the season and I’ve not had one win. Every meeting, every scan, it always gets a bit worse.’
He then revealed that when his doctor told him the cancer had not spread to his lungs, Elliot yelled out: ‘There’s your first win of the season!’
Mark added: ‘Most cancers now are seen as curable. Even the ones that aren’t curable are treatable, and patients live for many years. My generation were brought up thinking cancer was as final as being beheaded, but that’s no longer true. If it’s cancer, there will be a plan to deal with the cancer.’
He went on to say praise the NHS, from scientists, to doctors, to cleaners, to campaigners, for helping ensure that he could survive a disease that would’ve once been fatal.
Mark said his treatment would be beginning soon and that it is estimated he will be able to return to performing in six months.
Staying bravely upbeat, he concluded: ‘I have cancer, but it’s a cancer that can be got rid of. I feel like there’s a leopard in my house, that’s locked in a room.
‘I’ve contacted the leopard authorities and they assure me they are used to dealing with leopards like this, and they have a plan for removing the leopard, though it will take a while, and once in a while I can hear it growl. And that’s all very reassuring.
‘Even so, several times a day I think to myself “hang on, there’s a f***ing leopard in my house”.’
As well as performing stand-up, Mark has written several radio and television shows, as well as a number of books.
He has also appeared frequently on Have I Got News For You, Room 101, Mock the Week, The Graham Norton Show, and Question Time.
He was due to perform at Southport Comedy Festival this Friday as part of his tour that was meant to continue until Peterborough in April 2024, but all of his shows have now been postponed.
Southport Comedy Festival organisers Brendan Riley and Val Brady said: “We are sad to hear the news from Mark Steel today, but send him our best wishes, from us and from all his fans and everyone in Southport.
“We are glad to hear he is taking a break from touring as he makes getting the best treatment his top priority for him and his family.
“We hope the medical care he receives has a positive impact as soon as possible and hope to welcome him back to Southport soon.”
They have now organised a new show to take place this Friday – Disco Bingo.
Brendan and Val said: “The Disco Bingo show we have scheduled to take place this Saturday has completely sold out and lots of people have been contacting us, asking us for tickets.
“So we have decided to host an additional Disco Bingo night this Friday (13th October).
“We understand that some people planning nights out have planned babysitters and get their plans in place, so if anyone has refunds from Mark’s show, we have still got a Festival show for you.
“For all details please visit: southportcomedyfestival.com”
Show details:
Bingo Nights UK presents Disco Bingo
Back by popular demand Disco Bingo Returns to the Southport Comedy Festival.
Eyes Down for a fabulous night with this truly interactive event. Disco Bingo is exactly what it says on the tin; A full night of traditional style Disco and Bingo but with a modern twist.
Guaranteed to get the whole room up and dancing, classic disco hits are triggered when certain bingo numbers are called. The entire evening is peppered with music and good-natured banter provided by comedian and presenter Brendan Riley.
Sell-out show Festival 2021 and 2022.
Venue: Festival Marquee, Victoria Park
Ticket Price: £10
Door: 7pm
Eyes Down: 8pm
Age: 16+
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