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Ian McMillan

  • About
  • Reviews
  • Ian McMillan was born in Barnsley in 1956. He published his first Carcanet book of poems, The Changing Problem, in 1980. Now It Can Be Told appeared in 1983, Dad, the Donkey's On Fire in 1994. Selected Poems (Poetry Book Society Recommendation) has gone through several printings, and I Found this Shirt is now in its third printing.

    He first made his name through his work with the Poetry Circus in the early 1980s. Since then he has become famous for his work in schools, radio (presenter of Booked and panellist on many other Radio 4 shows, The Mark Radcliffe Show and Poetry Please), as Poet in Residence for Barnsley F.C., and in poetry venues across the nation.
    Praise for Ian McMillan
    '€˜The John Peel of poetry.'
    Alec Finlay
    'The verbal gymnastics of a north country Spike Milligan coupled with the comic timing of Eric Morecambe.'
    Frome Festival
    'An inspiring figure, an encouraging & democratic spirit, a strong & popular poet and one of the funniest people in Britain.'
    Poetry News
    'It's impossible not to like McMillan. If they made him Poet Laureate on Friday, a lot more people would be reading poetry by Monday.'
    Guardian
    '€˜World-class - one of today'€™s greatest poetry performers.'
    Carol Ann Duffy
     'Inching towards the status of a National Treasure.'
    Andy Kershaw
    '€˜A force of nature.'
    Guardian
    'Giving a voice to those who don't have a voice, this is one of the things that Ian McMillan does so well: a donkey on fire, an actor in a bear mask, someone in an old photo...'
    Cliff Yates, The North
    'The later work is remarkable.' 
    Cliff Yates, The North
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