Two of the BBC's top spoken word programmes will broadcast as part of the 'Glastonbury of poetry' in Morecambe.
The Verb and Loose Ends will air from Morecambe Poetry Festival at the Winter Gardens theatre this September.
The Verb is hosted by Ian McMillan and is described as "a weekly language and literature cabaret with a mixture of high-octane guests and the best of new writing".
The show will be moving to BBC Radio 4 from Radio 3 this year, airing on Sunday afternoons at 5.10pm.
Loose Ends on BBC Radio 4 is regularly hosted by Clive Anderson with guests, and is described as "an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy".
There has been no confirmation on who will host the broadcast in Morecambe, although the BBC recently announced that top radio DJ and music critic Stuart Maconie was joining its roster of presenters.
"To say we're excited is something of an understatement," said Matt Panesh, who founded Morecambe Poetry Festival in 2022 and co-hosts the 'Decadent Airwaves' poetry show on Beyond Radio.
"The BBC is bringing two of its leading Radio 4 spoken word and performance shows to Morecambe Poetry Festival to capture the poets in action and chat to guests in front of a live audience."
Both events will be free to attend, with holders of festival weekend passes to be given the first option of booking the two BBC shows before being made available to the general public.
"The shows feel a natural fit with the rest of the programme, as the festival continues to build," said Matt.
"It's really great to offer the town a chance to see these shows for free."
The Verb’s long-standing presenter Ian McMillan is a poet and performer from Yorkshire, as well as a playwright, journalist, and all-round poetry whirlwind. As well as writing and performing his own work, for both adults and children, he is a tireless champion of poetry and the spoken arts, and a campaigner for the arts to be for everybody. He has been described by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy as “world-class – one of today’s greatest poetry performers”, and is one of Britain’s best-known broadcasters.
Sue Roberts, Executive Editor, Loose Ends and The Verb, said: “Morecambe Poetry Festival features both high profile talent and phenomenal new names. We can’t wait to bring our audience some of these with our own Radio 4 twist - come and join us.”
Comedy folk music poet Mike Harding, national treasure Pam Ayres, Sunday Times bestselling poet Donna Ashworth, comedy actor, writer and impressionist Alistair McGowan, literary institution Lemn Sissay MBE, festival friend Henry Normal, potty-mouthed Thick Richard and the award winning Jamaican British poet Raymond Antrobus MBE FRSL have already been announced for this year's Morecambe Poetry Festival, which takes place from September 20 to 22.
Read more: Excitement builds for Morecambe Poetry Festival - Beyond Radio
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