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.