06/01/2007

In the Dark Tower: Louise MacNeice at the BBC

Louis MacNeice, who was born in Belfast in 1907, wrote some of the most beautiful poetry of the last century. For 20 years, he was also one of the BBC's most innovative radio producers, famous for productions such as The Dark Tower and Columbus - which featured Laurence Olivier and music by William Walton - and unusual impressionistic programmes such as India at First Sight.

MacNeice was an enigmatic figure, aloof yet concerned, a brilliant classicist who loved rugby and a hard drinker who worked harder. Paul Muldoon, another distinguished poet from Belfast, and himself an accomplished radio producer, explores the archive.