A regular on the British comedy circuit, Mark Steel has been a touring stand-up comedian for twenty years.

He has written and presented four series of The Mark Steel Solution for BBC Radio 4, and a further four series of The Mark Steel Lectures.

He has written for the Guardian and currently has a weekly column in the Independent and has published the books It's Not A Runner Bean - Dispatches from a Slightly Successful Comedian and Reasons To Be Cheerful.

The latter, in which he relates his minor role in every major political event of the last twenty-five years, was described by Things Can Only Get Better author John O'Farrell as "The second best book I have read about growing up under Thatcher and Major."

Mark has appeared on the panels for Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Have I Got News For You? and Question Time.

When not writing his weekly column for the Independent or broadcasting for the BBC, Mark can be found watching Crystal Palace play football during winter or following Kent County Cricket Club in summer.

Mark’s third book Vive La Revolution examined the more bizarre occurrences and extraordinary characters within the French Revolution.

In August 2008 he brings out his latest book What's Going On?

When  he appeared at UEA in April 2008 to give the Tom Paine Lecture he delighted a packed audience with his funny, irreverent approach to history.

Tickets (£12) will be available from Diss Library and Tourist Information Centre, or phone the museum office (01379) 650618.

This is the first event of Paine 09, the Tom Paine Festival, created by Diss Museum.