THE Southport Comedy Festival in association with Halliwell Jones Mini have announced another big name for this year’s 17 day event at Victoria Park.

Award-winning writer, comedian and broadcaster Mark Steel is bringing his brand new show ‘The Leopard In My House’ to the Southport Comedy Festival on:- Saturday, 11 October 2025. Tickets are on sale from the festival website.

The show is about his battle with throat cancer. Mark was due to perform at the Southport Comedy Festival in 2023 but had to cancel the tour due to his diagnosis. 

Southport Comedy Festival Director Brendan Riley said:- “We are thrilled to see that Mark has made a recovery and we are looking forward to welcoming him to our festival.”

Mark Steel said:- "The consultant had told me he was confident I had throat cancer that had spread into the lymph glands. Joyfully, I held his hand, and looked up to the heavens like a South American footballer after scoring a goal. It was one of the happiest moments of my life. This show is the story of my year, of wonderful characters and often tricky but bafflingly positive experiences. Doing the show doesn’t quite make me glad that it happened, but it definitely makes up for it quite a bit.”

Join multi award-winning, BAFTA-nominated writer and comedian Mark Steel for his new tour ‘The Leopard in My House’. The topic? His battle with throat cancer. A battle he is winning (thankfully) and which only his rapier wit could fashion a comedy tour show out of. Cancer has done nothing to dull Mark's acute political observations or quash his "frankly bonkers" energy:- you will laugh, you will cry, but you'll laugh again, and again, and again. The Leopard in My House is proof that this leftie, working-class, Radio 4 favourite truly deserves his place in the UK comedy pantheon. 

Mark Steel is best known for his critically-acclaimed BBC Radio 4 show Mark Steel’s in Town (now in its 13th series), as well as his hit podcast What The F*** Is Going On…?. He has presented the BAFTA-nominated Mark Steel Lectures for BBC 2, and is a regular on BBC One’s Have I Got News for You and BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz. He has also written several acclaimed books, including an adaptation of his critically acclaimed stand-up show Who Do I Think I Am? for Audible.

Mark is the 4th name to be announced for this year’s event. Mark will be joining internationally acclaimed Irish comedian Ardal O’ Hanlon, best known for his starring roles in Father Ted, Death in Paradise and Derry Girls, Persian Powerhouse and Star of the Silver Screen Omid Djalili and comedian and star of Strictly Come Dancing Chris McCausland. Tickets for Chris’s evening and matinee shows have already sold out so don’t wait to buy your tickets for the shows you want to see.

Tickets for Mark’s show are on sale now from the festival website.

The 14th annual Southport Comedy Festival will take place from:- 3 to 19 October 2025. The entire festival will be staged for a 5th year in a giant luxury heated and seated marquee courtesy of Elite Marquees in Victoria Park, home of the world-renowned Southport Flower Show. 

Keep an eye on the festival website or join the mailing list to find out 1st who else will be making Southport Smile this October

Mark Steel:- The Leopard In My House
Date of show:- Saturday, 11 October 2025
Tickets:- £18 +BF
Doors 7pm
Show 8pm
Age suitability:- 14+PG
Venue:- Southport Comedy Festival Under Canvas at Victoria Park in Southport, Esplanade, Southport, PR8 1RX
Tickets:- Southport Comedy Festival