What's on TV & Radio
What's on TV
My Life in Verse: Robert Webb
Thurs 8 Oct 2009 23:50 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two (England, Scotland and Wales only)
Comedian Robert Webb goes on a journey to find out more about TS Eliot's The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock. Rpt.
Watch on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer
Watch more Celebrity Choices
Arena: TS Eliot
Thurs 8 Oct 2009 22:25 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four
Arena presents a profile of TS Eliot which, with unprecedented co-operation from the Eliot Estate, tells the story of one of the 20th century's most celebrated and elusive writers. Rpt.
Watch on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer
More about TS Eliot
Owen Shears: A Poet's Guide to Britain
Thurs 1 Oct 2009 19:30 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four
Poet and author Owen Sheers continues to track great works of poetry through the British landscape. In the second episode he traces the steps of Sylvia Plath. Rpt.
Broadcast details
Watch the last episode on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer
More about Sylvia Plath
More about William Wordsworth
Full details of the other programmes that featured in the season
Ian Hislop's Changing of the Bard
Sat 16 May 2009 22:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four
Ian Hislop welcomes the new Poet Laureate of 2009 Carol Ann Duffy with a history of arguably one of the oldest and oddest offices in the British establishment.
Broadcast details
More about Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy: Secular Prayers
Sat 16 May 2009 23:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four
An archive anthology of the work of Carol Ann Duffy, Britain's first ever woman Poet Laureate, read by the poet herself from the last 20 years.
Broadcast details
More about Carol Ann Duffy
Poetry Please: Thirty Years of the People's Poetry
Sun 17 May 2009 21:30 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four pays tribute to the world's longest-running poetry programme on its 30th anniversary.
Broadcast details and watch a behind-the-scenes clip
More about Roger McGough
Why Poetry Matters
Wed 20 May 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two
Join Griff Rhys Jones on a personal journey to find out why we should care about poetry.
Broadcast details
Watch our guides to writing, enjoying and performing poetry
Off By Heart
Fri 22 May 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One (except Scotland)
Documentary following school children preparing for a national poetry recital competition.
Broadcast deatils
More about Benjamin Zephaniah
Watch our guides to writing, enjoying and performing poetry
Simon Schama's John Donne
Tues 26 May 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two
Simon Schama celebrates the life and work of Britain's greatest love poet, John Donne.
Broadcast details
Watch a clip
Armando Iannucci in Milton's Heaven and Hell
Wed 27 May 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two
Armando Iannucci explores his passion for John Milton - a poet whose preoccupation with ideas of sin, liberty and the fall of man, may seem out of step with 21st century Britain but, as Iannucci reveals, has never been more relevant.
Broadcast details
Watch clips
Michael Wood on Beowulf
Thurs 28 May 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four
Historian Michael Wood reveals the origins of our literary heritage. Focusing on Beowulf and other Anglo-Saxon classics, he traces the birth of English poetry back to the Dark Ages.
Broadcast details
My Life in Verse: Sheila Hancock
Fri 29 May 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two
Actress Sheila Hancock explores how her love for poetry has become a lifeline since the death of her husband John Thaw in 2002.
Broadcast details
Watch more Celebrity Choices
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Thurs 4 Jun 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four
Simon Armitage goes on the trail of the mythical Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Broadcast details
Watch Armitage's Gawain poem uncut
My Life in Verse: Cerys Matthews
Fri 12 Jun 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two
Cerys Matthews goes on a journey of Celtic discovery to trace the evolving role of the poet in society from the earliest Welsh bards.
Broadcast details
Watch more Celebrity Choices
The Book Quiz: Poetry Special
Fri 12 Jun 2009 22:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four
Kirsty Wark presents a special edition of the literary panel game. Guests include former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, poet Brian Patten, actress Alice Eve and comedian Natalie Haynes.
Broadcast details
Watch our guides to writing, enjoying and performing poetry
My Life in Verse: Malorie Blackman
Fri 19 Jun 2009 21:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two
Children's author Malorie Blackman finds out more about the poems and poets - dead and alive - who have inspired her, from William Blake and Benjamin Zephaniah to Jackie Kay.
Broadcast details
Watch more Celebrity Choices
What's on Radio
Poetry Please
Sundays 16:30-17:00 2009 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's hugely popular poetry request show, presented by Roger McGough. Including
two 30th anniversary specials on Sun 11 October and Sun 18 October.
More about Roger McGough
Poetry Slam
Thurs 8 Oct 2009 23:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Radio 4 marks National Poetry Day by broadcasting the finals of the 2009 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4 Poetry Slam competition, held at the Birmingham Conservatoire and hosted by Dreadlock Alien.
Listen again on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayerRadio 4 website
Watch Dreadlock Alien's guide to performing poems in public
Poetry on Radio 7: Jubilee Poetry
Thurs 8 Oct 2009 from 10:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 7
Radio 7 presents of day of classic poetry recordings in honour of National Poetry Day, starting with a gala evening of verse by Britain's Poets Laureate from 2002. Hosted by Andrew Motion and with readings by Juliet Stevenson and Samuel West.
Broadcast detailsNational Poetry Day on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 7
Great Lives: Tennyson
Fri 7 Aug 2009 23:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Radio 4's short Tennyson season continues with former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion championing Alfred, Lord Tennyson under the stewardship of presenter Matthew Parris.
Listen again on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayerRadio 4 website
More about Tennyson
Poems for Today
From Thurs 21 May 2009 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Radio 3 broadcasts 41 poems in Breakfast, one a day for six weeks.
Listen again to all 41 poemsRadio 3 Poetry Season programme guide
Under the Influence
Friday 22 May 2009 23:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Poet Fred D'Aguiar explores the work of the poets who have influenced him most.
Radio 3 Poetry Season programme guideSunday Feature - Children of the Whitsun Weddings
Sun 23 May 2009 21:30 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Poets Kate Clanchy and Paul Farley take a train through 'Larkinland', as they explore their mutual admiration for Philip Larkin's work.
More about Philip Larkin
Broadcast details
Radio 3 Poetry Season programme guide
Ode to Whitman
Sat 30 May 2009 12:15 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Rob Cowan explores the attraction of composers to the poetry of Walt Whitman.
Radio 3 Poetry Season programme guideSouth of My Days
Sun 28 Jun 2009 16:30 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Greta Scacchi presents a portrait of the extraordinary Australian poetess Judith Wright (1915-2000) whose work broke new ground in exploring the Australian relationship with the environment and its native people.
Broadcast details
Radio 4 website
The Verb
Friday 10 Jul 21:15 2009 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Last in the present series of Ian McMillan's weekly look at language.
The Verb websiteWatch Ian McMillan's guide to performing poetry
Walking With Whitman
Sat 11 Jul 2009 23:30 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Stuart Maconie meets devotees of Walt Whitman in Bolton and explores the history of the town's unlikely yet enduring relationship with the American poet.
Listen again on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer
Radio 4 website
Macavity's Not There: TS Eliot in the 21st Century
Tues 21 Jul 2009 11:30 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
As a major project begins to edit the works of TS Eliot, author and critic Michael Alexander explores the place of the poet in national culture.
Broadcast detailsMore about TS Eliot
Classic Serial: Tennyson's Maud
Sun 26 Jul 2009 13:00 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Joseph Millson reads Alfred, Lord Tennyson's dark and lyrical poem Maud to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the poet's birth.
Broadcast detailsMore about Tennyson
Afternoon Reading: Blake's Doors of Perception
Sun 26 Jul 2009 19:45 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Short stories marking the 250th anniversary of William Blake's birth, each inspired by a quote from the great poet. Rpt.
Broadcast detailsRadio 4 website
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Proms 2009: Proms Literary Festival - Tennyson
Sun 2 Aug 2009 20:20 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion introduces a personal choice of poems by another poet Laureate, Alfred Tennyson, performed by actress Fiona Shaw.
Broadcast details³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Proms Literary Festival
More about Tennyson
Sunday Feature: Searching for Alfred in the Shadow of Tennyson
Sun 2 Aug 2009 21:45 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Poet Ruth Padel goes in search of the real Tennyson, exploring ways in which his legacy is felt today - in music, poetry and fiction
Broadcast detailsRadio 4 website
More about Tennyson
Words and Music: To Strive, to Seek, to Find and Not to Yield
Sun 9 Aug 2009 22:45 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
Beth Goddard and Michael Pennington read a selection of poetry from Alfred, Lord Tennyson and others on the theme of destiny.
Broadcast detailsWords and Music website
Drama on 3: Crossing the Bar
Sat 29 Aug 2009 21:15 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3
A dramatisation of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's most popular sea narratives, including Enoch Arden and Crossing the Bar, sung by a cappella trio Coope, Boyes and Simpson.
Broadcast detailsMore about Tennyson
In Search of the Wantley Dragon
Sun 30 Aug 2009 16:30 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
Ian McMillan explores the bawdy 17th century comic poem The Dragon of Wantley.
Broadcast detailsWatch Ian McMillan's guide to performing poetry
The poems featured in the TV and Radio trailers for the season are:
The poems featured in the press adverts are:
All reproduced with permission
Search poems by theme
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