Lemn Sissay's Origin Stories

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

The Bed Under The Stairs

20161003

20171012 (R4)

Batman was an orphan; Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was an orphan; Superman was an orphan and a foundling. Cinderella was a foster child. Darth Vader - well, they can't all be winners.

Taking a comic and poetic angle, Lemn Sissay compares reality against the treatment of children raised in care, orphans and foster children in popular culture. Because it surely says something about how we view them that we create so many for fiction?

In this opening episode, Lemn compares his experiences as a foster child to the life of Harry Potter.

Like Harry, Lemn was never told the truth about what happened to his parents. Like Harry, he found his foster parents harsh and unforgiving. But, like Harry, he came through those problems, avoided the dementors, and grew up.

As well as storytelling, comedy and poetry, Lemn imagines an interview with Vernon and Petunia Dursley - Harry's foster parents. Finally, they get to tell their side of the story.

Written and performed by Lemn Sissay.

Producer: Ed Morrish

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016.

Lemn discusses his experiences as a foster child and draws comparisons with Harry Potter.

Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.

In this opening episode, Lemn compares his experiences as a foster child to the life of Harry Potter.

As well as storytelling, comedy and poetry, Lemn imagines an interview with Vernon and Petunia Dursley - Harry's foster parents. Finally, they get to tell their side of the story.

Written and performed by Lemn Sissay.

Producer: Ed Morrish

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016.

Lemn discusses his experiences as a foster child and draws comparisons with Harry Potter.

Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.

Mutatis Mutandis

20161010

20171019 (R4)

In this episode, Lemn looks at the children at Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, otherwise known as The X-Men Academy.

More specifically, Rogue and Wolverine, whose dark and tragic origins lie long before either of them reached the School. But there, Xavier - Professor X - sought to teach the children how to control their powers and make the most of them.

Lemn's experiences in children's homes in Wigan was not the same. What difference would it have made it it had been?

Lemn also talks to comedian and care leaver Sophie Willan, who spent most of her childhood in foster care and assisted accommodation.

What superpowers did she discover she had, removed from the security of family?

Written and performed by Lemn Sissay.

Producer: Ed Morrish

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016.

Lemn looks at the children at Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.

Is It A Bird?

20161017

20171026 (R4)

The most important thing that John and Martha Kent taught Clark, the boy they found in a strange-looking pod that crash-landed on their Kansas farm, was to keep his true self secret.

People wouldn't understand that you can lift cars, melt steel beams with your eyes, or fly. People will be scared of you because you are different. Every adoptee and every care leaver knows this feeling. Lemn examines how he hid his feelings, his experiences, his identity, in order to fit in better with the world around him.

Lemn also talks to comedian and adoptee Deborah Frances-White about secret identities - and how to go about reinventing yourself.

Written and performed by Lemn Sissay.

Producer: Ed Morrish

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016.

Lemn examines how he hid his feelings and identity to fit in with the world around him.

Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.

The Dark Side

20161024

20171102 (R4)

No-one, really, believes they are doing evil.

Anakin Skywalker did not become Darth Vader because he liked being bad, he did it because he believed his pregnant wife was in danger - and so began his journey to the Dark Side.

In this final, and possibly toughest, episode, Lemn examines his bad choices; where he let himself do the wrong thing - and how he has attempted to make amends.

When must you let go of your memories and live?

Written and performed by Lemn Sissay.

Producer: Ed Morrish

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016.

Lemn examines where he let himself do the wrong thing, and how he has tried to make amends

Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	The Bed Under The Stairs	20161003	20171012 (R4)	Batman was an orphan; Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was an orphan; Superman was an orphan and a foundling. Cinderella was a foster child. Darth Vader - well, they can't all be winners. Taking a comic and poetic angle, Lemn Sissay compares reality against the treatment of children raised in care, orphans and foster children in popular culture. Because it surely says something about how we view them that we create so many for fiction? In this opening episode, Lemn compares his experiences as a foster child to the life of Harry Potter. Like Harry, Lemn was never told the truth about what happened to his parents. Like Harry, he found his foster parents harsh and unforgiving. But, like Harry, he came through those problems, avoided the dementors, and grew up. As well as storytelling, comedy and poetry, Lemn imagines an interview with Vernon and Petunia Dursley - Harry's foster parents. Finally, they get to tell their side of the story. Written and performed by Lemn Sissay. Producer: Ed Morrish First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016. Lemn discusses his experiences as a foster child and draws comparisons with Harry Potter. Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture. Batman was an orphan; Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was an orphan; Superman was an orphan and a foundling. Cinderella was a foster child. Darth Vader - well, they can't all be winners. Taking a comic and poetic angle, Lemn Sissay compares reality against the treatment of children raised in care, orphans and foster children in popular culture. Because it surely says something about how we view them that we create so many for fiction? In this opening episode, Lemn compares his experiences as a foster child to the life of Harry Potter. Like Harry, Lemn was never told the truth about what happened to his parents. Like Harry, he found his foster parents harsh and unforgiving. But, like Harry, he came through those problems, avoided the dementors, and grew up. As well as storytelling, comedy and poetry, Lemn imagines an interview with Vernon and Petunia Dursley - Harry's foster parents. Finally, they get to tell their side of the story. Written and performed by Lemn Sissay. Producer: Ed Morrish First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016. Lemn discusses his experiences as a foster child and draws comparisons with Harry Potter. Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.
02	Mutatis Mutandis	20161010	20171019 (R4)	Batman was an orphan; Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was an orphan; Superman was an orphan and a foundling. Cinderella was a foster child. Darth Vader - well, they can't all be winners. Taking a comic and poetic angle, Lemn Sissay compares reality against the treatment of children raised in care, orphans and foster children in popular culture. Because it surely says something about how we view them that we create so many for fiction? In this episode, Lemn looks at the children at Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, otherwise known as The X-Men Academy. More specifically, Rogue and Wolverine, whose dark and tragic origins lie long before either of them reached the School. But there, Xavier - Professor X - sought to teach the children how to control their powers and make the most of them. Lemn's experiences in children's homes in Wigan was not the same. What difference would it have made it it had been? Lemn also talks to comedian and care leaver Sophie Willan, who spent most of her childhood in foster care and assisted accommodation. What superpowers did she discover she had, removed from the security of family? Written and performed by Lemn Sissay. Producer: Ed Morrish First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016. Lemn looks at the children at Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.
03	Is It A Bird?	20161017	20171026 (R4)	Batman was an orphan; Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was an orphan; Superman was an orphan and a foundling. Cinderella was a foster child. Darth Vader - well, they can't all be winners. Taking a comic and poetic angle, Lemn Sissay compares reality against the treatment of children raised in care, orphans and foster children in popular culture. Because it surely says something about how we view them that we create so many for fiction? The most important thing that John and Martha Kent taught Clark, the boy they found in a strange-looking pod that crash-landed on their Kansas farm, was to keep his true self secret. People wouldn't understand that you can lift cars, melt steel beams with your eyes, or fly. People will be scared of you because you are different. Every adoptee and every care leaver knows this feeling. Lemn examines how he hid his feelings, his experiences, his identity, in order to fit in better with the world around him. Lemn also talks to comedian and adoptee Deborah Frances-White about secret identities - and how to go about reinventing yourself. Written and performed by Lemn Sissay. Producer: Ed Morrish First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016. Lemn examines how he hid his feelings and identity to fit in with the world around him. Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.
04	The Dark Side	20161024	20171102 (R4)	Batman was an orphan; Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was an orphan; Superman was an orphan and a foundling. Cinderella was a foster child. Darth Vader - well, they can't all be winners. Taking a comic and poetic angle, Lemn Sissay compares reality against the treatment of children raised in care, orphans and foster children in popular culture. Because it surely says something about how we view them that we create so many for fiction? No-one, really, believes they are doing evil. Anakin Skywalker did not become Darth Vader because he liked being bad, he did it because he believed his pregnant wife was in danger - and so began his journey to the Dark Side. In this final, and possibly toughest, episode, Lemn examines his bad choices; where he let himself do the wrong thing - and how he has attempted to make amends. When must you let go of your memories and live? Written and performed by Lemn Sissay. Producer: Ed Morrish First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2016. Lemn examines where he let himself do the wrong thing, and how he has tried to make amends Poet Lemn Sissay looks at foster children and children in care in popular culture.