The Verb - where the poetry kettle is always on
Joining Ian McMillan around the poetry kettle are poetry critic Graeme Richardson, poetry director Dr Julie Blake, poetry artist Simeon Barclay, and poetry pamphleteer, Hasti.
Are you ready for a poetry brew? Ian McMillan is and he's joined by Graeme Richardson, Anglican priest and the Sunday Times poetry critic, with his debut poetry collection, Dirt Rich; Dr Julie Blake, cofounder and director of Poetry By Heart - the schools and colleges poetry recitation competition, on why learning poetry when young is a gift for life; artist Simeon Barclay, shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize for his spoken word performance, The Ruin, on making art from language; and Hasti, winner of the Michael Marks Award 2026 for their debut pamphlet, Young, Dumb, and Full of Poems.
Presenter Ian McMillan
Producer: Ekene Akalawu
On radio
Broadcast
- Sunday17:10BBC Radio 4
The Verb: Something New – The Poems
New poems commissioned by The Verb for the BBC centenary.
35 Years of Spoken Word
A season of Poetry and Performance from Hull.
BBC Arts
Explore the BBC Arts website and discover the best of British art and culture.
The Dylan Thomas Collection
Listen to programmes, poetry readings and commentary from Radio 3's Dylan Thomas Day.
Podcast
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The Verb
Radio 4's cabaret of the word, featuring the best poetry, new writing and performance.
