Book Reviews

It's Not A Runner Bean...
Dispatches From A Slightly Successful Comedian

by Mark Steel
The Do-Not Press, 1996. £5.99 pb
Review by Sam Beale

Squall 15, Summer 1997, pg. 52.

Mark Steel's book 'It's Not A Runner Bean' is a selection of 'Dispatches from a Slightly Successful Comedian'. It is not a 'so then I said...' smug, luvvies account of the crazy, show-biz life of a stand up; it is a collection of astute insights, political observations and everyday occurrences from the viewpoint of a funny, socialist performer who is also a highly entertaining writer.

Steel shares his thoughts on his forays into television, mining communities, student unions, America and more whilst dropping in observations about people, politics, publicity and the nature of fame: ' ...fame is the most appalling possible yardstick to measure success by. David Mellor, after all, is famous. So is Keith Chegwin. And Myra Hindley and Jeremy Beadle and Alan Titchmarsh and Reggie Kray and that irritating twat who introduces Countdown.'

Runner Bean is full of well-told tales; there are stories about puffed up people in positions of power proving themselves to be prats, and an equal number about rebels, the 'humour and resilience' of ordinary people and the delight to be had from lateral doubletakes when all about you has gone awry. Steel's honesty about his politics, his razor-sharp rants and straightforward compassion combine throughout with a healthy dose of mischievous fuckery.

This is a book which makes you wish you were the sort of person who writes down all those funny little things that happen every day. And it shows, for those who have lost faith, that comedy can 'deal with matters... more urgent than how difficult it is finding the end of a roll of Sellotape'.