The Mark Steel Solution

Summary

Mark Steel uses his unique logic to propose subversive solutions to society's problems

What if the Royal Family was chosen by weekly lottery?
Why should giving to charity be illegal?
Could government economic policy be decided by sport?

Award-winning writer and comedian Mark Steel aims to put the world to rights in these 15 episodes, as he comes up with radical proposals to improve our lives and sort out our social ills.

From the economy to transport, housing, crime and our current age of pessimism, Mark’s got a brilliant idea that’s sure to fix the problem. Each show sees him using witty, persuasive arguments and short, sharp sketches to present his case, as he contends that having a job should be illegal, everyone should have to be gay for two years, and nobody should have to go to school until they’re 36.

Whatever the issue, Mark’s got the answer – whether it’s dealing with immigration by deporting everyone born in England, or healing religious divisions by making everyone change their faith every Monday. Lend him your ears and he’ll convince you of anything, as he sets about proving that the ridiculous is really very sensible indeed – and that changing the world is easy, if you’re willing to listen to his advice...

Written and performed by Mark Steel and Spitting Image writer Pete Sinclair, this funny, thought-provoking series also features Maria McErlane and Kim Wall.


Written by Mark Steel and Pete Sinclair
Starring Mark Steel, Pete Sinclair, Maria McErlane and Kim Wall
Produced by Turan Ali (Series 1) and Phil Clarke (Series 2-4)

Contents:

Series 1
The Family: ‘No-one should live in the same family for more than one year’
Judges: ‘Ex-convicts should be recruited as High Court judges’
The Economy: ‘Government economic policy should be decided by sport’

Series 2
Unemployment: ‘Having a job should be illegal’
Transport: ‘Transport should only be paid for by people who don’t use it’
Housing: ‘Everyone in Britain should be re-housed at random’
The Royal Family: ‘The Royal Family should be chosen by weekly lottery’

Series 3
Sexual Politics: ‘Everyone should have to be gay for two years’
Charity : ‘Anybody who gives to charity should be jailed’
Crime: ‘Criminals should decide their own punishment’
Immigration: ‘Anyone born in England should be deported’

Series 4
Religion: ‘People should have to change their religion every Monday’
The Media: ‘Anyone in charge of the media should be sacked after thirty minutes’
Education: ‘Nobody should go to school until they are 36’
Pessimism: ‘Pessimists should be persecuted by law’

First broadcast BBC Radio 5 from 16 Oct-13 Nov 1992 (Series 1), 15 July-5 Aug 1994 (Series 2), 4 Aug-25 Aug 1995 (Series 3), 16 Aug-6 Sept 1996 (Series 4)

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