Bards at the BBC: Our picks for World Poetry Day

21 March 2016

To celebrate World Poetry Day we have cherry-picked some gems from across the BBC for your viewing and listening pleasure: from SYLVIA PLATH and PHILIP LARKIN to GEORGE THE POET and ALLAN GINSBERG.

Culture is context

George the Poet's spoken word poetry about the role of culture.

Sylvia Plath's Ariel

The collection that made Plath's reputation, Ariel, was published posthumously in 1965.

BBC Radio 4 - Poetry Please
Selections of poetry on various themes, chosen by listeners.
Pam Ayres on Simon Mayo's Drivetime
Pam Ayres reads her poem 'Do You Think Bruce Springsteen Would Fancy Me?'
Great Lives: Emily Dickinson
Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis, Matthew Parris and Lyndall Gordon take a look at the American poet's life. The reader is Lia Williams.

Rachel McCrum performs Light

The BBC Scotland Poet in Residence reads her newest work, written for National Poetry Day

WH Auden and Stevie Smith in the pub in 1965

The poets sing and chat together in a pub in Edinburgh during the International Festival.

Poetry Slam Grand Final: Scott Tyrrell

A taste of 2015 BBC Poetry Slam champion Scott Tyrrell's performance.

Poetic justice: How the world caught up with Stevie Smith
Bidisha considers one of Britain’s most distinctive poets and argues that it’s time to stop regarding Smith as a curiosity.
Could you be a poet?
Benjamin Zephaniah shares some of his techniques and key tips on how to become a poet, are you up for accepting the challenge to create lines that people will cherish and remember?
Great Poets in Their Own Words: Allan Ginsberg
In the summer of 1965 the BBC filmed a unique moment when Allen Ginsberg headlined a poetry reading at the Royal Albert Hall in London for 7000 people.
Melvyn Bragg reads Last Letter
Melvyn Bragg reads from Ted Hughes's poem Last Letter
A beautiful animation of Philip Larkin’s The Trees
For the 30th anniversary of Philip Larkin’s death, BBC Culture commissioned a special animated video of the poet reading The Trees.

The Whitsun Weddings

AN Wilson delves into the writing of one of Larkin's poetic masterpieces.

Jackie Kay reads 'Old Tongue'

Poet and author Jackie Kay reads 'Old Tongue'. She was named Scottish Makar in 2016.

Picasso’s ex-factor
Who are the six women who shaped his life and work?
Quiz: Picasso or pixel?
Can you separate the AI fakes from genuine paintings by Pablo Picasso?
Frida: Fiery, fierce and passionate
The extraordinary life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, in her own words
Proms 2023: The best bits
From Yuja Wang to Northern Soul, handpicked stand-out moments from this year's Proms