The British have a habit of making light out of less-than-happy situations.

Just ask Mark Steel, for even in a dark moment where the reality of cancer and his mortality dawned, the author, columnist and stand-up realised he had struck a seam of comedy gold.

“Bits of the routine often write themselves because people around you are funny,” said Mark, whose comeback tour will bring him to Farnham Maltings on Friday, February 28.

“One of my worst moments during my experience with throat cancer was when I was coughing up blood and I thought I might really be in trouble, so I just ran out of the house and went to A&E with the shoes I only usually wear when performing.

“The guy that looked at me was this sort of wonderful camp doctor from somewhere oop there in the north of Scotland. I was really scared and he said to me: ‘I’ve got something very important to tell you – I really love your shoes.’

“It was just a wonderful funny way of telling you everything is alright. You meet people who are funny, lovely and warm and all these things make a story.”

Mark’s triumphant battle against cancer and his experiences before and after his diagnosis are well-documented on his website, with the author naturally adding a comedic flourish to his recollections.

But any comic worth their salt would do the same, especially as the man overseeing his treatment had a penchant for superstition.

“Did I think my experiences with cancer would make good material? Absolutely!

“I barely got a single negative experience, the only thing that was a bloody negative was the cancer.

“You get all these stories so all you’ve got to do is string it together and turn it into a routine. I think if you’re a comic it would be very remiss not to make a show about it.”

Mark is looking forward to getting back under the spotlight and sharing his astute observations with the nation through his The Leopard in my House tour.

Farnham will be one of the first towns to welcome his tour with only Barnard Castle and Bracknell hosting performances before the gig at the Maltings.

“You do miss it,” said Steel.

“In the depths of it all you’re not thinking about getting on stage, you just want to walk up and down the stairs in one go, but it’s great fun being out there again.”

And what is he bringing to Farnham aside from humour, observations and a life-affirming tale?

“I am going to stoke the rivalry with Aldershot,” he said with a good grasp of local geography.

“I am going to encourage you take up arms, given that the military is receding in its manpower, I think that Aldershot is there for the taking.

“Topple the statue of the Duke of Wellington and get the Gurkhas on your side. You can do it.”

For tickets and more details about Mark’s February 28 show at Farnham Maltings visit https://farnhammaltings.com/events/mark-steel