AUDIENCE interaction seems a given for stand-ups in recent years: some even find ingenious ways to work it into their set.

On the flipside, it risks becoming a forced element of a comedy set, primed to reveal more awkward acts hiding behind bolder personae.

For Mark Steel, I wouldn’t call it audience interaction so much as rapport. He’s an incredibly down-to-earth comedian, completely comfortable on the stage, and that extends to his brilliantly relaxed approach to audience members.

Steel’s skills extend beyond that mastery of rapport: if you’ve listened to his material on BBC Radio 4, you won’t be surprised to find he’s quick with trivia surrounding York that’s relatable without being pandering.

His takedown of "Bregret" following June’s Referendum is exactly what you can rely on Steel for, and he does not disappoint in the slightest. His animated anger results in a mic-stand casualty as Steel provides a particularly original take on the junior doctor strike.

The main bulk of Steel’s show follows a search to find his biological parents: first mother, then father. He’s built on and expanded the show since its run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015, meaning it does feel less tight a set, but the overall effect by lengthening the show means the tension bubbles under the surface for far longer.

The punchlines and reveals in store at the story’s conclusion benefit from such a wait. Steel has a fantastic knack for storytelling and it’s a joy to see such a great payoff in his narrative.