Before each episode, Steel researches the history of the town he is going to perform in. Steel's research interests include local notable people, landmarks, customs and humorous anecdotes. The majority of the research sometimes took place close to the actual recording date. For example, Steel carried out almost no research for his episode in Walsall until ten days before the recording. In Merthyr Tydfil he spent three days in the town where he did research and met locals.
He then performs a tailor-made show about the town in front of a local audience. The style of the programme is similar to other shows starring Steel such as The Mark Steel Lectures, in which Steel presented a humorous lecture about a famous person in history.
In 2010 Mark Steel's in Town won a Silver Award for "Best Comedy" in the Sony Radio Academy Awards.
"This programme is stand-up comedy at its very best. Stand-up on radio is immensely challenging – and often unsuccessful but this programme is intelligent and rich in content, well paced and, moreover, funny. Although it is clear that a lot of preparation went into making this programme, the result is fluent, natural and exciting. It was also generous to its audience and to its location – and very much in tune with the sound and appeal of the network."The Sony Radio Academy Awards
Series 1
1 Skipton. Recorded at the Mart Theatre, which also acts as a livestock auction hall, Steel visits Skipton, North Yorkshire, in which he talks about the local canals, cattle and Skipton Castle.
2 Boston. Recorded at the Blackfriars Arts Centre, Steel visits Boston, Lincolnshire, and discusses the town's love of Brussel sprouts, its links with Puritanism and the story of the Boston Stump.
3 Lewes. Recorded at the All Saints Centre, Steel visits Lewes, East Sussex, and chats about its bonfires, its history of pub fights and the local stroppiness.
4 Walsall. Recorded at the local town hall, Steel visits Walsall, West Midlands, and brings up the subject of the local anarchists who were framed by the police, a concrete statue of a hippo and how Walsall has nothing whatsoever to do with Birmingham.
5 Merthyr Tydfil. Recorded at the Myfanwy Theatre, Steel visits Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, and looks at the Merthyr Rising, the boxers and the Welsh roots of Donny Osmond.
6 Portland. Recorded at the Portland Spa Hotel & Conference Centre, Steel visits the Isle of Portland, Dorset, and chats about the history of Portland stone, its military history, and the local hatred of a certain fluffy animal beginning with "R".
Series 2
1 Dartford. Recorded at The Mick Jagger Centre, Steel performs in Dartford in his home county of Kent, discussing the Peasants' Revolt, gypsy tart, and what one resident calls the "Road To Hell".
2 Wilmslow. Recorded at the Green Room Theatre, Steel performs in Wilmslow, Cheshire, where he talks about footballers mansions, 3D eyelashes and the rhyming Wizard of Alderley Edge.
3 Dumfries. Recorded at the Theatre Royal, Steel performs in Dumfries, on the Scottish border, where Steel looks at the town's hatred of seagulls and love of Robert Burns.
4 Penzance. Recorded at the Acorn Arts Centre, Steel performs in Penzance, Cornwall, where he looks at the town's remoteness and pasties, as well as the Newlyn fish riots and an unusual civil war concerning a ferry terminal.
5 Gateshead. Recorded at the Old Town Hall, Steel performs in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, in which he talks about the local art, a famous car park, and how the town is definitely not Newcastle.
6 Kirkwall. Recorded at The Pickaquoy Centre, Steel performs in Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney, where he talks about a violent ball game, Thorfinn The Skullsplitter and why the weather makes it pointless being a hairdresser on the island.
Series 3
01. Berwick-upon Tweed. In this first episode Mark performs a show for the residents of Berwick-Upon Tweed where he talks about war with Russia, Scottish rivalries and rather unusual local slang.
02. Holyhead. Mark performs a show for the residents of Holyhead in Anglesey, where he talks about sinking ships, fishy foot nibbling, the town's newest locals, Kate and Wills, and a mayor whose eccentricity puts Boris to shame...
03. Basingstoke. Mark talks about war with the Salvation Army, prehistoric roundabouts and a rather unusual world record set in a shopping centre.
04. Douglas (Isle of Man). Mark performs for the residents of Douglas on the Isle of Man, to discuss space travel, fairy bridges and the mystery - or otherwise - of Gef the Talking Mongoose.
05. Bungay. In this episode Mark performs a show for the residents of Bungay in Suffolk, where he talks about non-existent castles, haunted pubs and chicken roundabouts.
06. Wigan. Mark talks about entering pie eating competitions, living under floorboards, and the radicalism of George Formby.
