THE hit BBC Radio 4 show, Mark Steel’s In Town, is heading to Barnard Castle in April for its sixth season.

Tickets are now available for the free event which will be performed and recorded at The Witham, in Barnard Castle, on Tuesday, April 28, at 7pm.

Every year on BBC Radio 4, comedian, columnist and author, Mr Steel, visits six towns across the UK to explore its history, people and idiosyncrasies to try and work out what ingredients combine to make the place distinctive.

Before each episode, he visits the places he will be performing in, meets with the locals and researches the town’s history before performing a tailor-made stand-up comedy show about the town in front of a local audience.

Peter Dixon, who organises the town’s Funny Way To Be Comedy Club, said: "The producer of 'Mark Steel's In Town' attended one of our comedy shows at The Witham and we got chatting afterwards.

“We soon realised that Barnard Castle was full of history and character and would be a great place for Mark Steel's In Town Series.

“The BBC then quickly acted upon this and we are thrilled that they are coming to our market town for the top BBC Radio 4 Series."

To apply for free tickets visit bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/mark_steels_in_town_2015