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The Verb

First broadcast from 20020406 to 20100312.

Ian McMillan presents the late night showcase of new writing, found language and hi-octane performance.

310 episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Description
		20020406		With novelist Zadie Smith, DJ Charlie Dark, oral storytellers from Morocco and an audio cartoon by Peter Blegvad
01		20070413		A series by novelist Elena Lappin which follows the fortunes of Marty Himmelfarb, a writer discovering unlikely success in the world of spam.
01	Bbc Writersroom	20090227		Ian Mcmillan introduces the first in a series of three new short drama commissions, created by writers attending a workshop at the BBC writersroom, a scheme that seeks out and encourages new British writing talent in film, television and radio. The project is part of the writersroom's Sparks programme, where writers attend a workshop and collaborate in small groups in creating short dramas especially for radio. The three best entries are then chosen to feature on The Verb. Ian Mcmillan presents a new drama written specially for The Verb, from BBC writersroom.
02	Bbc Writersroom	20090306		Ian Mcmillan introduces the second in a series of three new short drama commissions, created by writers attending a workshop at the BBC writersroom, a scheme that seeks out and encourages new British writing talent in film, television and radio. The project is part of the writersroom's Sparks programme, where writers attend a workshop and collaborate in small groups in creating short dramas especially for radio. The three best entries are then chosen to feature on The Verb. Ian Mcmillan presents a new drama written specially for The Verb, from BBC writersroom.
03 LAST	Bbc Writersroom, Neil Labute	20090313		Ian Mcmillan is joined by celebrated, and often controversial, American dramatist Neil LaBute, writer-director of In The Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbours and The Shape of Things. Neil reads a new monologue, I Love This Game, about an obsessed baseball fan whose passion for his favourite sport brings unexpected - and unpleasant - consequences for him and his family. Plus writer, performer and verbal virtuoso Inua Ellams, who presents extracts from The 14th Tale, his one-man show about a mischievous boy growing up in Nigeria, Dublin and London. Ian also introduces the last in a series of three new short drama commissions, created by writers attending a workshop at the BBC writersroom, a scheme that seeks out and encourages new British writing talent in film, television and radio. The project is part of the writersroom's Sparks programme, where writers attend a workshop and collaborate in small groups in creating short dramas especially for radio. The three best entries are then chosen to feature on The Verb. Ian Mcmillan talks to Neil LaBute about his monologue, entitled I Love This Game.
	Finders Keepers	20020413		Seamus Heaney on his new essay collection `Finders Keepers', and a report from Seoul on new challanges for Korean writers.
		20020420		Julian Barnes on his translation of Daudet's deathbed diaries, a discussion of the French chanson, and a report on the Inuit language and literature.
		20020427		Ian McMillan explores new writing from poet and novelist Jackie Kay and recalls the Black Mountain writers of North Carolina, who influenced the Beat poets, pop art and early rock.
		20020504		Including children's books written on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
	Stardust: Three Monologues Of The Dead	20020511		Ian Mcmillan hosts a weekly showcase of new writing and performance. Tonight, featuring a work for radio from Irish writer John Banville, `Stardust: Three Monologues of the Dead'.
		20020518		Ian McMillan hosts the weekly showcase of new writing, performance and global literature. Tonight, featuring the South African novelist Nadime Gordimer, and a Punch and Judy show.
		20020525		Ian McMillan on new writing, including a book on performing Shakespeare by National Theatre voice coach Patsy Rodenburg
		20020608		Ian Mcmillan presents new writing, featuring a story by J M Coetzee and an audio cartoon by American radio producer Gregory Whitehead
		20020615		Ian McMillan presents a showcase of new writing, and considers the stories hidden in everyday documents such as till receipts. He is joined by authors David Levy and Toby Litt.
		20020622		Ian Mcmillan presents a showcase of new writing. Belfast playwright Colin Teevan presents a radio drama reflecting Ireland's World Cup dramas.
		20020629		Gregory Whitehead presents an aural meditation on the theme Evil Axis, and Ian Mcmillan interviews author Jon McGregor.
		20020706		Glyn Maxwell unveils his work in progress - a monologue by a sinister best man - and Peter Blegvad presents a cartoon for radio.
		20020713		Ian McMillan presents a showcase of new writing from the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, including a look at Yorkshire dialect.
		20020921		Ian McMillan returns with the weekly showcase of new writing, performance and global literature. Including an essay by Jan Morris, and William Fiennes discussing travel writing.
		20020928		Ian McMillan presents a special edition of the programme recorded at this year's Edinburgh Festival.
		20021005		Ian McMillan presents a weekly showcase of new writing, performance and global literature.
		20021012		Graham Swift reads from his work in progress; a dictionary of Polari and gay slang reviewed; plus the performance poetry scene in Amsterdam.
		20021019		Ian McMillan is at the Birmingham Book Festival for this edition of the literary magazine with guests Jim Crace and poet Roi Kwabena and a short drama from Naylah Ahmed.
		20021102		Ian McMillan presents an edition of the literary magazine recorded at the Belfast Festival. Featuring new work from Belfast writer Tara West, and another instalment of the Keaniad.
		20021109		The magazine about language, including Michael Ondaatjie on Canadian literature; the task of the editor; Brooklyn writer Toure; poetry from Stockholm; and made-up languages.
		20021116		Ian McMillan explores the literary genre of the epic, with Christopher Logue, who talks about Homer, and Derrek Hines on the Babylonian epic Gilgamesh and other epics.
		20021130		Featuring Alice Oswald reading sonnets about the audience and a discussion exploring the language of authority.
		20021207		Ian McMillan explores language, including a story by Nigerian Helon Habila, the University of East Anglia's creative writing course, and poet and storyteller Rosemary Harris.
		20021214		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language, including a specially commissioned Nativity story, a writing competition and and a feature on Christmas songs.
		20030104		Ian McMillan recalls some of the new work commissioned by the programme since it began in April 2002, plus a new poem by Michael Symmons Roberts marking the visit of the Magi.
		20030118		Ian McMillan presents the magazine about language and meets thriller writer Andrew Miller. He also has news of The Verb's latest competition and talks to novelist Fred D'Aguiar.
		20030125		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language, including Rose Tremain reading from her latest novel plus a new story by Anne Donovan
		20030201		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language and talks to novelist Magnus Mills and poet Katrina Porteous, whose commissions are featured in the programme.
		20030208		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language. Featuring an imaginary phone conversation between two schoolgirls and a world-weary God from Glasgow writer Anne Donovan
		20030215		Ian McMillan explores protest writing with poet laureate Andrew Motion and Robert Wyatt. Plus Longshore Drift, a poem by Matrina Porteous.
		20030222		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language, including a specially commissioned piece commemorating the writer W G Sebald penned by his former student Sarah Miano.
		20030301		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language, featuring a new art form combining film and poetry, plus the literature of asylum seekers.
		20030315		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language, featuring a specially commissioned fable about an obsessive carpenter from American writer J Robert Lennon, who explains how the occupations of his characters shape their lives and language. Plus an exploration of the King James Bible with McMillan and guest Adam Nicholson. How is that particular translation shaped by the fact that it was written by a gaggle of clerics and not a single author?
		20030322		On tonight's showcase of writing, performance and language Ian McMillan considers the language of branding. How are words and stories being used by 'verbal identity directors' to persuade us to buy in the global marketplace? Plus, performance in the studio from some of the new voices on the spoken word circuit.
		20030329		For thirty years Verbatim, The Language Quarterly, has been publishing essays about the byways of English, from the roots of medieval words to the components of football chants. At last a collection of its essays has been published and in this week's showcase of new writing, language and performance Ian McMillan luxuriates in this linguistic jacuzzi along with the editor and some contributors. To counter the obsession with writing by the youthful, The Verb proudly presents the greatest living writer in Wales, Emyr Humphreys, author of twenty novels and several collections of short stories and poetry. Now in his eighties, his writing is as vigorous as ever and his latest book, Old People Are A Problem, is absolutely contemporary, dealing with asylum-seeking, cultural and political nationalism and environmental protest. Ian McMillan talks to Humphreys, who reads his most recent story.
		20030405		For weeks The Verb's listeners have been sending in tantalising snippets of found language. For the first time James Flint reads the long awaited interactive story that he has fashioned from them. And bloody butchers, green beasts and Dovey bumbles, Ian McMillan rises to the beautiful, brutal poetry of fishing flies.
		20030412		In the showcase of new writing, language and performance Ian McMillan meets novelist Richard Flanagan, who recently travelled from Tasmania to receive from the Queen the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. He enjoyed the irony of this as 200 years ago his ancestors traveled to Tasmania, courtesy of one of the Queen's ancestors, who had them transported. Flanagan reads Out Of A Wild Sea, a story he has just finished, and Ian investigates the language of dance: pli�, arabesque and cha-cha-cha. What do they mean, and where do they come from?
		20030419		Ian McMillan presents the showcase of new writing, performance and language recorded before an audience at the new National Maritime Museum in Falmouth. With his guests he charts the extraordinary way the language of the sea and ships influences how we talk, and conducts a master-class in nautical speech. There's a specially written drama by the young Cornish playwright Carl Grose, performed by members of Kneehigh Theatre. It's set on the seabed and stars two crabs and Neptune. The travel writer and novelist Philip Marsden, from St Mawes, considers the importance and poetry of names of places: rocks, bays, even buoys in his new piece, also commissioned by The Verb. And Ian McMillan browses through the Bartlett Library, on of Europe's most important collections of maritime books and papers, now berthed at the museum.
		20030426		Ian McMillan presents the language, literature and performance show. This week, the building blocks of all writing: letters. From calligraphy to typefaces, via cursive scripts, ligatures and illumination, Ian goes in search of the character of characters with Edward Docx, whose first novel The Calligrapher combines an obsession with John Donne with a tour of the letter writer's art. And what's in a name? How did you get your name? How has it affected you? Have you a secret name? Why do you hide it? Ian McMillan investigates.
		20030503		Sacred Poetry, Music, Tragedy and Comedy each have their own muse, and so does Astronomy. This week, Ian McMillan meets the muses, the nine children of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory) and considers the case for a tenth. Who would she be, and what would she inspire? And a new poem from Polly Clark, and an examination of the newspaper column: apogee of a writer's art, or nadir of lazy journalism?
		20030510		As an Iranian child Marjane Satrapi witnessed the overthrow of the Shah, the Islamic Revolution and the war with Iraq. She turned her story into a beautiful and gripping graphic novel, Persepolis, which runs weekly in the French press and has just been translated into English. She talks to Ian McMillan about turning a tumultuous life into a cartoon. Plus a new commission for the programme by playwright David Greig.
		20030517		Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's showcase of words, language and performance, including new writing from the American Poet Laureate Billy Collins.
		20030524		Ian McMillan hosts the weekly showcase of new writing, language and performance, with songs from Clive James and Pete Atkin, a bank holiday road-movie for caravans and a view of Russian literature through the word signifying the dangerousness of people who eat caviar: Azart.
		20030531		Ian McMillan presents original poetry by Adam Thorpe, the final part of Peter Blegvad 's current cartoon series and the result of The Verb's 'Tom Swift' competition.
	Night Lights	20030607		Ian McMillan hosts the showcase of new writing and language. This late night edition looks at night - the light at night and night-lights. There's an evocation of the night in Shetland, which as we approach midsummer is growing lighter, a lament for the lost darkness of the city now it is always lit up, a letter from a lighthouse and an appreciation of the comforting glimmer in the corner of the room, the night-light.
		20030614		Ian McMillan presents the showcase of new writing, language and performance from Gartree High School in Leicestershire, featuring novelist Bali Rai reading his work in progress, Rani and Sukh, a Romeo and Juliet tale of feuding Punjabi families in Oadby, the schools neighbourhood. There's new poetry from Mario Petrucci and music from Jim Moray who makes age-old English traditional song absolutely modern. As well as a piece by the students themselves, Ian McMillan delves into their language - finding out about the English spoken by 14 year olds in multi-ethnic Leicestershire.
		20030621		Ian McMillan presents the showcase of new writing, language and performance. This week, as part of the Architecture on 3 season, there's a new story written for a building, and an investigation of how words and texts are used in architectural design. Ian also meets the Hollywood screenwriter William C Martell, author of The Secrets Of Action Screenwriting.
		20030628		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language. Including a new radio play by Welsh writer Niall Griffiths, whose novels include Sheepshagger and Stump.
		20030920		Radio 3's cabaret of writing, language and performance roars into a new season with a brand new work from the internationally acclaimed playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker. Presented by Ian McMillan
		20030927		Ian McMillan presents the series about language. Geoff Dyer presents a spoof biography of Jackson Pollock, and there's a new short story by Edward Upward, who is 100 this month.
		20031004		Ian McMillan presents the magazine about language. Features new work from Japanese author Haruki Murakami and from 70s singer Wreckless Eric. Plus new writers Dave Eggers and McSweeneys.
		20031011		Ian McMillan hosts a special edition of Radio 3's cabaret of the word, recorded at this year's Cheltenham Festival of Literature. New writing, explosive performance and Cheltenham based language, with Philip Pullman, Peter Blegvad - and showcasing new writing from Ken Campbell and Owen Sheers.
		20031018		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language. Featuring a specially written drama by Tella Feehily, whose play, Duck, opens at the Royal Court on 26th November.
		20031025		Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word. This week there's new work by Paul Abbott, the writer behind acclaimed TV dramas such as Clocking Off and State Of Play, who returns to writing for radio with his new mini-drama, The Crescent, written for The Verb.
		20031101		Ian McMillan brings The Verb to the edge of England with a programme from the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival. There's a new piece with a coastline theme written for the programme by Paul Farley, winner of last year's Whitbread Poetry Award, plus readings and performance from other leading poets at the festival.
	Traditional Ballads	20031108		Ian Mcmillan presents the showcase of new writing, language and performance. This week the programme discusses traditional ballads, with performance from June Tabor whose new album features Sir Patrick Spens and Lord Maxwell's Last Goodnight among others.
		20031115		Ian MacMillan presents BBC Radio 3's celebration of language and performance. This week the programme will be hearing from the man described as America's most challenging poet, CK Williams. He'll be reading from his new book The Singing, his first since the Pulitzer prize winning collection, Repair. There'll also be an audio cartoon about milk from the inimitable Peter Blegvad and as the king of the ghazal, Jagjit Singh, returns to Britain to perform at the Royal Festival Hall, Ian will be exploring this uniquely Indian fusion of poetry and song.
		20031129		Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's showcase of new writing and language, with explosive performance from Ken Campbell in the first of his new series of dramatic monologues written especially for The Verb. And an audio diary from Susan Elderkin, winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction, who shares her intimate thoughts on her journey across China as part of the British Council Writer's Train.
		20031213		Ian McMillan serves up another helping of Radio 3's language goulash. This week the programme features a specially commissioned story from the poet and novelist Tobias Hill, inspired by his recent travels in Mexico, and the inimitable Ken Campbell lets his imagination run away with him in another of his performance pieces composed for The Verb.
		20031220		Ian McMillan returns from the kingdom of Dictionopolis carrying a freshly minted edition of Radio 3's word fest. Tonight, get your fridge magnets at the ready as The Verb's Christmas Writing Competition is launched, and prepare yourself for another shower of sentences from that stalwart of British theatre, Ken Campbell.
		20040110		Ian McMillan comes up from the language mine bearing a sack full of shiny words. This week a specially commissioned story from the award-winning writer Sherman Alexie, whose stories about Native American lives charm and pierce with a force that overturns all the many stereotypes of these original inhabitants of America. And too short to be a novel, too long to be a short story - The Verb finds out if there's more to a novella than size.
		20040117		This week Ian explores the noble art of the essay, with some of its greatest proponents. Listen out for the results of The Verb's Christmas writing competition - Mario Petrucci reads the winning fridge magnet poem.
		20040124		This week Ian explores the noble art of the essay, with some of its greatest proponents. And listen out for the results of The Verb's Christmas writing competition - Mario Petrucci reads the winning Fridge magnet poem.
		20040131		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language.
	The List Of Rig	20040207		Ian McMillan with another late night showcase of new writing, topical language and hi-octane performance. Tonight, a new commission - 'The List of Rig' - by award winning young playwright Joanna Laurens, whose risk-taking, poetic plays have caused much excitement among audiences and critics. 'The List Of Rig' is a funny and unusual Old Norse story about the creation of the class system.
		20040221		Almost every exhibition now presses an audio-guide on the visitor. These are sometimes more absorbing than the exhibits. So for Radio 3's showcase of new writing and performance Ian Mcmillan challenged Charles Palliser, best-selling author of The Quincunx, to write a radio play in the form of one of these smooth-voiced squires. Palliser, famous for his brilliant plotting and Gothic imagination, has responded with a tale of intrigue and murder. Ian is joined too by riddling storyteller Daniel Morden, and Peter Blegvad returns with the first of his new eartoons.
		20040228		In the cabaret of language this week MC Ian McMillan introduces the American writer Richard Powers, author of the acclaimed novel The Time of Our Singing. For The Verb he has written something between a meditation and a short story, prompted by the beguiling promise language of spam emails. Tom Robinson performs a new song formed of found language - and found music, too. There's another eartoon from Peter Blegvad, and it's the grand finale of the Overheards competition, in which listeners have deluged the programme with works of art they have wrought from snippets of overheard conversation.
		20040306		Ian McMillan presents the language and literature show. This week, a new performance from Jean Binta Breeze and a look at Come Out Eli, a play which uses transcripts of interviews with witnesses to tell the story of a London siege.
		20040313		Ian McMillan presents the showcase of new writing, performance and language, with a new short story for radio by Mia Couto, Mozambique's best-known writer. Mark Abley, author of 'Spoken Here -Travels Among Threatened Languages' has gone around the world listening to languages spoken by tiny groups. He reports not on their precarious state, but on their extraordinary richness. For example, the Boro language in India has a verb which means 'to create a pinching sensation in the armpit'. And Ned Thomas, expert on the minority languages of Europe, makes sense of the tangled relationship of power, politics, land and language.
		20040320		The poet and playwright Liz Lochhead introduces a commissioned piece for radio inspired by park benches and the conversations had on them, and the chanteuse Sarah Jane Morris performs some brand new songs in the studio, and reflects on why her rendition of 'Me and Mrs Jones' sometimes causes consternation in the audience.
		20040327		Who said - " Sex without love is an empty gesture but as empty gestures go its one of the best"? Or Wisdom and beauty form a very rare combination? Ian McMillan explores the wonderful world of the aphorism. Also, hi-octane performance from poet Attila the Stockbroker.
		20040410		In a springtime programme devoted to the natural world Elspeth Barker responds to nature crossing her threshold and invading her house. Ian McMillan takes a nature walk with William Fiennes, author of The Snow Geese and Richard Mabey writes about writing about nature.
		20040417		Matthew Kneale, author of the wonderful historical novels Sweet Thames and English Passengers, reads a new story commissioned by The Verb. Ian McMillan is joined too by Mario Petrucci, who performs part of Heavy Water, a remarkable long poem drawn from the accounts of survivors of the Chernobyl disaster which happened eighteen years ago - the time it takes a person to reach adulthood - this month.
		20040501		Ian McMillan meets the stage director, designer, singer, actress and cellist all rehearsing the Staying Alive Tour, making a controversial anthology into a theatrical event. Meanwhile, Michelene Wandor returns from the world's biggest conference of creative writers with the new piece of creative writing it inspired.
		20040508		Jeffrey Eugenides, acclaimed author of The Virgin Suicides and Middlesex, talks to Ian McMillan and reads an exclusive extract from his next book. Plusan examination of one of the great feats of translation: the translator of Sebald and Zweig on the challenge of Asterix.
		20040515		Z Z Packer is a young American writer whose first collection of short stories, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, has garnered transatlantic acclaim. She talks to Ian McMillan and reads a new piece set in the Atlanta of her childhood. And with a new novel, biography and film of his life pending, The Verb goes in search of Christopher Marlowe, inventor of the 'mighty line': blank verse drama.
		20040522
		20040529		James Wood joins Ian McMillan to talk about the art and craft of literary judgement, plus performances of new work from Malawian poet Jack Mapanje and Sudanese poet Hafez Kheir.
		20040605
	Gardens - 2	20040612		In the second of a series of commissions inspired by paintings of gardens, celebrated novelist Rose Tremain reads a stunning short story set in France at the turn of the century.
		20040619
		20040626		As the Olympic flame arrives in London, Ian Mcmillan presents a new series of commissions in which contemporary writers look again at the Greek myths. The first is a short story by Panos Karnezis, author of the acclaimed collection 'Little Infamies' and the novel 'The Maze.' His story is based on the myth of Arachne, a supremely gifted weaver who dared challenge the goddess Minerva to a contest. Also featuring new work from Ken Campbell, and a feature on the great Pablo Neruda.
		20040703		Ian McMillan presents the second in a series of new commissions in which contemporary writers look again at the Greek myths. This week, playwright Colin Teevan with an extraordinary monologue based on the story of Medea. Teevan's Medea is a man betrayed by his wife, and his revenge is quite as terrible as Euripides' original. Also featuring new work from Ken Campbell, and a profile of the nineteenth century Dorset poet William Barnes, currently being championed by Christopher Ricks.
		20040710		Ian Mcmillan presents the third in a series of new commissions in which contemporary writers look again at the Greek myths. This week, poet Ruth Padel reads a gripping short story based on the myth of Deianeira and the death of Heracles, who perished in agony after putting on a poisoned cloak, a gift from a woman who loved him. Also featuring a new piece by Ken Campbell
		20040716		Ian McMillan presents the last in a series of new commissions in which contemporary writers look again at the Greek myths. And, fifty years after it was written, Ian celebrates Philip Larkin's poem Churchgoing. Also featuring a new piece by Ken Campbell.
		20040717		Ian Mcmillan presents the last in a series of new commissions in which contemporary writers look again at the Greek myths. And, fifty years after it was written, Ian celebrates Philip Larkin's poem Churchgoing. Also featuring a new piece by Ken Campbell
		20040724		Ian Mcmillan presents a special programme showcasing the best of The Verb's specially commissioned writing for radio. Including outstanding work from Richard Powers, Paul Abbott and Elspeth Barker.
		20040918		Ian Mcmillan's guests are Booker Prize winning novelist Yann Martel and writer and singer Nick Cave.
		20040925
		20041002		Ian McMillan with more late night word cabaret: newly commissioned writing, hi-octane performance, and the best in world literature.
		20041009
		20041016		This week he explores the perplexing subject of spelling - its history, uses and misuses - with the help of Linguistics professor Vivan Cook, author of Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary. Plus, the singer Barb Jungr will be performing a specially commissioned song about spelling, and there'll be a chance to hear a new radio drama from the acclaimed Irish writer Ronan Bennett.
		20041023
		20041030		Margaret Atwood and Robert Bringhurst talk to Ian MacMillan about the Classical Hyda Mythtellers, the native American stories which Atwood describes as 'An American Iliad'.
		20041106		This week's guest is the acclaimed Irish writer Ronan Bennett.
		20041113		This week there'll be a chance to hear the acclaimed Scottish writer AL Kennedy, who explores her own fear of flying in a letter specially commissioned for The Verb.
		20041120		Ian McMillan presents a special edition of Radio 3's cabaret of new writing, language and performance from the London Jazz Festival - with a jazz theme, star names from the world of writing and music, and the best in word-based improvisation.
		20041127		Ian McMillan presents the late-night showcase of new writing and performance. Acclaimed Scottish writer AL Kennedy describes her fear of flying in a specially commissioned letter.
		20041204		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language.
		20041211
		20050108		Ian Mcmillan introduces a new series for The Verb in which the Tom Paulin explores the Secret Life of the Poem. Over the next four weeks he will be looking behind the stanzas of seemingly familiar poetry and revealing the hidden histories and meanings behind them, beginning today with He Fumbles At Your Soul by Emily Dickinson. Ian will also be marking the 40th anniversary of the death of T S Eliot with a reassessment of his reputation as a dramatist.
		20050115		Tom Paulin continues his series the Secret Life of the Poem with Robert Browning's Meeting at Night, and audio cartoonist Peter Blegvad returns.
		20050122		Ian McMillan is joined by the poet Julia Darling, who has written a new story about sickness and waiting. Tom Paulin reveals the secrets of Seamus Heaney, and award winning 'eartoonist' Peter Blegvad returns.
		20050129		Tom Paulin concludes his series the Secret Life of the Poem and award winning audio cartoonist Peter Blegvad is in the studio.
		20050205
		20050212		Ian McMillan presents a special edition featuring writers Ali Smith and Paul Bailey in a dialogue about dialogue.
		20050219		As the daffodils begin to appear, poet Paul Farley gives a modern answer to Wordsworth's classic verses.
		20050226		Ian Mcmillan sneaks a preview of an exclusive extract from David Peace's next novel, The Damned United, which dramatises scenes from the life of the legendary footballer and manager Brian Clough, and Ken Campbell begins a new series of commissioned monologues.
		20050305		Ian McMillan presents a special programme recorded at the Hayward Gallery, celebrating African writing and performance. Ngugi Wa Thiong'O reads from his next novel, Jackie Kay performs new poetry and the Daara J trio showcase the best in Senegalese hip hop.
		20050312		With new work from cult Israeli writer Etgar Keret, and a commissioned drama about intrusive documentary-making from playwright Steve Waters.
		20050319		Whitbread prize-winning poet Michael Symmons Roberts performs a new commission inspired by the Book of Psalms, and Ian hears the first in a series of new versions of the parables as novelist Sarah Hall rewrites the parable of the lost sheep.
		20050326		This edition features new poetry from John Burnside and a commissioned parable from acclaimed Pakistani novelist Kamlia Shamsie.
		20050409		Ian Mcmillan presents the literature and performance programme, featuring a new short story from acclaimed Irish playwright Billy Roche and performance from Ken Campbell
		20050416
		20050430		Ian McMillan presents the literature and performance show, with new work from Chimamanda Adichie and Philip Hensher, with a close-reading of David Hughes classic novel The Pork Butcher.
		20050507		Ian talks to the Thai-American writer, Rattawut Lapcharoensap and there's a chance to hear The Verb's award-winning eartoonist, Peter Blegvad
		20050514		There's a special commission from Chris Cleave, author of Incendiary, a new novel which imagines Britain in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Chris's commission looks at how language reacts to moments of crisis. Also on the show, a new eartoon from Peter Blegvad
		20050521		Ian Mcmillan talks to the acclaimed author Barry Hines, author of A Kestrel for a Knave (later filmed as Kes), about his four decade career as novelist, playwright and screen writer. There's also be a chance to hear another instalment from the Verb's very own eartoonist, Peter Blegvad, and the award-winning travel writer Alexander Frater traces the evolution of travel writing over the past century.
		20050528		The acclaimed American author Joyce Carol Oates discusses the faith of the writer; plus, a specially commissioned piece by renowned novelist Derek Beavan, and another instalment from The Verb's award-winning eartoonist Peter Blegvad
		20050604		Ian McMillan presents the writing and performance programme from the Hay Literary Festival. He is joined by the acclaimed American music critic Greil Marcus to discuss his new book on Bob Dylan's classic, Like a Rolling Stone. The Verb's award-winning eartoonist Peter Blegvad will also be on the panel, alongside other stars from the festival.
		20050611		Ian Mcmillan presents the writing and performance programme. This week's poet, Nii Parkes, launches his Verb guide to great African writers; plus, Alex Butterworth on graffiti in the ancient world, and poet Wendy Cope judges the villanelle competition.
		20050618		Featuring a specially commissioned piece from acclaimed new writer Diana Evans; poet Nii Parkes continues his guide to great African authors and Canadian poet Jen Hadfield reads a new road poem, composed especially for The Verb.
		20050625		Ian McMillan presents the writing and performance programme. This edition features a special commission from writer Adam Thorpe which pays homage to Baudelaire's classic, Les Fleurs du Mal, which is 100 years old this year. And poet Nii Parkes continues his guide to great African writers.
		20050702		Nii Parkes concludes his guide to great African writers and the Malawian poet Jack Mapange reads from new work.
		20050709		Ian McMillan presents the weekly cabaret of new writing, poetry and performance in the last programme before the Proms season. This week, Radio 3's African writer-in-residence Rommi Smith reads from new work and the winner of the Beethoven competition is announced.
		20050917		Ian McMillan returns with a new series of the weekly cabaret of new writing, poetry and performance. Travel writer Alexander Frater contemplates the darker side of the monsoon in a special commission; novelist Kitty Fitzgerald discusses her startling debut Pigtopia, and there's an arresting performance from the UK's first ever poetry boy band, Aisle 16.
		20050924		Ian Mcmillan looks back at four decades of the Poetry Olympics with its founder Michael Horovitz. Plus the latest from one of Latin America's biggest poetry festivals taking place in Argentina.
		20051001		Including the first in a new series of performances from Rommi Smith, Radio 3's writer in residence for the Africa season.
		20051008		It's a translation special, featuring Somaliland's leading poet, Gaarriye, and an exploration of children's literature in translation.
		20051015		There's a mesmerising performance from Klezmer musician Geoff Berner, and another instalment of Rommi Smith's series of poems based on memories of Africa.
		20051022		Lost Consonants author Graham Rawle talks about his latest novel, a cut/paste homage to 1950s women's magazines. Plus a performance from Aisle 16, the UK's first poetry boy band. With Ian McMillan
		20051105		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language. With a specially commissioned poem about dark places for Guy Fawkes Night, and a discussion about the new literary phenomenon of fan fiction.
		20051112		Ian McMillan marks ten years since the death of Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Peter Blegvad returns with another series of his award winning 'eartoons'.
		20051119		Ian McMillan presents a special edition of the show from the London Jazz Festival. Guests include pianist Gareth Williams and acclaimed jazz vocalist Norma Winstone. Plus Verb regulars Peter Blegvad and Salena Godden.
		20051126		Another instalment from resident eartoonist Peter Blegvad, and an alternative view of American Thanksgiving in a piece from Native American novelist Susan Power. With Paul Farley
		20051203		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly cabaret of new writing, poetry and performance. Acclaimed Chinese-American novelist Amy Tan talks about her latest book Saving Fish From Drowning, and Poet Laureate Andrew Motion tells of the launch of the national poetry archive.
		20051210		This edition features another instalment from The Verb's award-winning eartoonist, Peter Blegvad
		20051231		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language.
		20060107		Second of two programmes in which Ian MacMillan looks back over the best writing and performances broadcast by The Verb in the past twelve months.
		20060114
		20060121
		20060128		Stig Dalager, one of Denmark's greatest living writers, has just had his first novel published in English. It's been heralded as a masterpiece, and is a fictional account of the complex life and loves of another Danish master storyteller - Hans Christian Andersen. Ian Mcmillan talks to Stig in his first British interview.
		20060204		Play detective with Ian Mcmillan when writer Val McDermid uncovers the secret of The Grave Tattoo, and reveals that the poet William Wordsworth and Fletcher Christian were childhood buddies. Plus, in the last of the series on South East Asian writers, Tash Aw talks about Korea's greatest living writer, the novelist Hwang Sok-yong and his novel The Guest.
		20060211		Ian Mcmillan hears from Will Self, who reads from his forthcoming novel featuring a disgruntled East End taxi driver; and Peter Blegvad uncovers the secret lives of books.
		20060218		Joolz Denby jumps onto her shark biscuit to deliver a dark tale of dangerous infatuation in the surfing village of Polwenna. And the latest in the topical tight turn-around written pieces adds another grain of unpredictability to Ian Mcmillan's cabaret of the written and spoken word.
		20060225		Booker prize winner DBC Pierre talks to Ian Mcmillan. Also featuring performance poet Shamshad Khan and children's author Maurice Gleitzman.
		20060304		Howard Jacobson gives Ian McMillan a sneak preview of his novel, Kalooki Nights. Plus, David Harsent and Michael Symonds discuss why poets are turning to writing crime novels.
		20060325		The first two pages of a novel can sell it - or kill it. Ian Mcmillan launches a competition that could win you a place on an Arvon's first-time novelists course, run by acclaimed writers Sarah Waters and Tim Lott. Plus, the world of Suzanne Andrade has been described as suburban gothic. She puts to words and music a forbidding and surreal world.
		20060401		To celebrate the centenary of Samuel Beckett's birth, Hollywood director Anthony Minghella joins Ian MacMillan to present a specially commissioned play he has written for The Verb. Leading lady and long time Beckett muse, Billie Whitelaw, shares her unique and intimate insight into the mind of the playwright and his work, reminiscing on her 25 years as his close artistic collaborator.
		20060408		The spotlight is on award winning playwright Kay Adshead's Of the End, her new radio play inspired by Samuel Beckett. Plus a celebration of the bard of Orkney, storyteller and poet George McKay Brown.
		20060415		The last in the series of special Samuel Beckett commissions.
		20060422		The body of a boy is washed up on a beach. Was it a fishing accident? Or was it murder? What unfolds is a haunting short story especially commissioned for The Verb in which the Nigerian born writer Segun Afolabi explores the role of blame in our societies today. He will also talk about the art of the short story with Ian McMillan and guests.
		20060429		How can running a marathon across the Sahara desert or winning the Antarctic marathon in minus 30 degrees help Booker-nominated Michael Collins write? He talks to Ian Mcmillan about the power of endurance and whether battling against the elements is comparable with the battle of the imagination against the blank page.
		20060506		To mark the 150th birthday of Sigmund Freud, novelist Jenny Diski looks at the impact he had on writers and writing. Presented by Ian Mcmillan
		20060520		Insects may be seen as pests but they have influenced and shaped our language as well as our literature. Pest expert Bridget Nicolls and pest musician Mira Calix prove this to Ian Mcmillan in surprising ways. And Orange prize winner Kate Grenville reads a specially commissioned short story.
		20060527		An audio spectacular awaits as Ian McMillan and guests attend this year's Hay Literary Festival.
		20060603		Ian Mcmillan uncovers The Meaning of Night, the title of Michael Cox's Victorian novel which is tipped to be the bestseller of the autumn.
		20060610		Ian McMillan challenges novelist Maggie Gee to turn her hand to thriller writing. Plus, an interview with poet Michael Tomlinson.
		20060617
		20060624		Ian McMillan and guests debate the changing language of the Book of Common Prayer. The Revd Peter Mullan and Very Revd Colin Slee join Ian to explore how the meaning, power and use of language contained within the foundational prayer book of the Church of England has been affected by re-versioning down the ages. Linked to the following programme, Between the Ears.
		20060701		Sukhdev Sandhu takes us on another of his literary nocturnal journeys - deep into the underground world of sewers.
		20060708		John Betjeman is still remembered as one of Britain's best loved poets. Ian McMillan celebrates his life and legacy in words in the company of people who knew him. The Verb celebrations start in Britten's beloved Cornwall - in a year which marks the centenary of his birth.
		20060923		The poet laureate Andrew Motion talks to Ian Mcmillan about how his childhood ending in a day led to In the Blood, his memoir of post-war England. Plus, performance poet Rhian Edwards kicks off her shoes to revel in the joys and perils of dance - in words.
		20060930		Ian Mcmillan hosts as writer Vanora Bennett talks about the Bible's very first translation into English; and there's a beguiling performance from public art poet Ira Lightman.
		20061007		British Bengali writer Tahmima Anam continues her Guide to Great Bengali writing, plus language professor David Crystal explores the world of the proverb. With Ian Mcmillan
		20061014		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly magazine about language, featuring work by resident eartoonist Peter Blegvad
		20061021
	Insomnia Special	20061028		Ian Mcmillan presents a special edition of the weekly language and literature cabaret devoted to the subject of insomnia. The centrepiece is a new play commissioned by Artangel and written by Janice Kerbel - Nick Silver Cant Sleep, a love story narrated by plants who only wake at night, starring Rufus Sewell, Josette Simon and Fiona Shaw
		20061104		Free Thinking: Festival of Ideas for the Future Ian Mcmillan presents a special live edition of the weekly language and literature cabaret from BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival in Liverpool. The programme features specially commissioned writing on some of the themes in the festival from poet Levi Tafari, eartoonist Peter Blegvad and writer Lizzie Nunnery.
		20061111
	War Poets	20061118		Ian Mcmillan presents a special edition of the language and literature programme focusing on war poetry. Poet Paul Farley examines the debt contemporary war poetry owes to Wilfred Owen and poets Richard Burns, Salah Niazi and Adriana Diaz-Enciso discuss their own writing, which deals with conflicts in the Balkans, Iraq and Central America.
		20061125		This programme focuses on cautionary tales and features Chris Addison, author of a new book of cautionary tales for grown-ups. Resident eartoonist Peter Blegvad turns his attention to our fascination with tales which warn us of danger.
	Pi 300	20061202		This programme celebrates the 300th anniversary of first usage of the Greek letter Pi to define the mathematical constant, with the help of public art poet Ira Lightman. Plus arresting performance from Canadian spoken word artist Sean Damian Bruno.
		20061209		Guest is poet Fiona Sampson, who explores the allure of the quartet, both literary and musical, in a piece specially written for the programme.
		20061216		Studio guest is novelist Benjamin Markovits, author of a specially commissioned Christmas children's story. Plus an interview with the acclaimed poet Alan Brownjohn as he looks back at his life and work.
		20070106		He looks back on the best moments from the programme during 2006.
		20070113
		20070120
		20070127		Guests Stuart Maconie and Iain Sinclair debate the literary north-south divide and folk singer Kathryn Williams pays tribute to the poet Stevie Smith.
		20070203		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly magazine about language. Louise Welsh brings a thriller writer's perspective to a specially commissioned piece about the sinister night life in a large factory in Edinburgh. Daljit Nagra, bard of Dollis Hill, talks to Ian about his collection Look We Have Coming To Dover.
		20070223
		20070302		He is joined by Booker-nominated novelist MJ Hyland, who shares an exclusive extract from her forthcoming third novel.
		20070309
		20070316		He is joined by Peter Cole, author of a book about the astonishing flowering of Hebrew poetry in medieval Spain at a time of Muslim and Christian domination.
		20070323		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly magazine about language. As natural gold runs out in Wales, poet Gillian Clarke delivers an ode commissioned in remembrance of Welsh gold mining.
		20070330		Bestselling thriller writer Jed Rubenfeld discusses the allure of Hamlet and there is another instalment of the guide to great Scandinavian writing.
		20070406		This week a specially commissioned piece celebrating The Verb's fifth birthday. Plus, to mark Good Friday, an exclusive interview with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, on his poetic career.
		20070420		This week, the second in Elena Lappin's three part series following the adventures of the spam writer Marty Himmelfarb. Plus, poet Kapka Kassabova discusses her new collection, Geography for the Lost.
		20070427		Featuring the new wave of Australian anti-pastoral writing with novelist Richard Flanagan, Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng and an arresting performance from Michael McGill.
		20070504		An edition devoted to the future of science fiction writing. Featuring a sci-fi eartoon from Peter Blegvad and a new drama from Ira Lightman.
		20070511
		20070518		This week, poet and novelist Adam Thorpe discusses the relationship between his two crafts. Plus debut author Steven Hall on the post-modern acrobatics in his novel The Raw Shark Texts.
		20070525		Ian Mcmillan presents an edition of the weekly language cabaret in front of a live audience at the Hay Literary Festival. Joining him are actor and writer Ken Campbell and the School of Night poets, who will be delivering some poetic wizardy, including instant sonnets. Ian talks to award-winning eartoonist Peter Blegvad and Welsh Chinese writer Peter Ho Davies.
		20070601		Ian Mcmillan explores the language of international management with Kenyan management consultant turned short story writer Ken Kamoche.
		20070608
		20070615
		20070622
		20070629		Ian McMillan hosts a live edition of The Verb from the newly refurbished BBC Radio Theatre in London. There'll be thrills, spills, Hawaiian shirts, flip flops and wordy fireworks. Guests include acclaimed Irish playwright Colin Teevan with a new dramatic take on A Midsummer Night's Dream, a brand new Verb commission from Mancunian songster Liam Frost, Malawian poet Jack Mapanje, and The Verb's Sony award-winning audio cartoonist Peter Blegvad
		20070706
		20070914		Radio 3's cabaret of the word returns from its summer holidays. Ian McMillan talks to the man Ian Rankin claims is the future of crime fiction, that's David Peace, author of GB84, The Damned Utd and Tokyo Year Zero.
		20070921
		20070928		Ian McMillan presents the weekly cabaret of language and literature live from the Broadcasting House Radio Theatre, London. Joining him on stage is a top line-up of writers, performers and singers, including poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and Robert Vanderplank, academic expert in global invective and insults.
		20071005		In this programme, Ian and guests ask if there is such a thing as northern and southern poetry, and discover the neglected work of American writer Bernard Malamud, who for many once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Saul Bellow and Philip Roth.
		20071012		His guests include Malorie Blackman, best known for her books for young adults.
		20071019		Ian Mcmillan hosts the weekly language and literature cabaret with his usual mixture of high-octane guests and the best of new writing.
		20071026		Ian Mcmillan with his weekly celebration of poetry and new writing, including a performance from writer, director and actor Ken Campbell
		20071102		Including a specially commissioned poem about China's Terracotta Army. Folk group Rachel Unthank and the Winterset join Ian in the studio.
		20071116		A special edition of The Verb recorded at Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival in Liverpool. Ian McMillan is joined by local poets Eleanor Rees and Paul Farley who try to define 'Free Verse' and explore the influence of Roger McGough, Brian Patten and Adrian Henri, whose anthology The Mersey Sound was published 40 years ago. Plus a new play from acclaimed young dramatist Lizzie Nunnery, and a Free Thinking eartoon from Peter Blegvad.
		20071123		Ian McMillan talks to award-winning Norwegian poet Hanne Bramness and is joined by writers who have collaborated on a special poem to mark the 450th anniversary of the Equals sign.
		20071130		In a special live edition of The Verb, Ian McMillan is joined by novelist Toby Litt who has been taking on some writing challenges for the show. Plus a special performance from folk legends Ashley Hutchings, founder of Fairport Convention and The Albion Band, and guitarist Ken Nichol.
		20071207		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly magazine about language.
		20071214
		20071221		Ian Mcmillan presents a special midwinter edition of Radio 3's showcase for new writing and spoken performance. Featuring a specially commissioned ghost story, poetic ruminations on ice skating and a discussion of the literary expressions of some of the harshest winter environments in the world.
		20080111		Ian Mcmillan talks to poet and critic Tom Paulin about the secret life of poems, and American novelist John Marks introduces a brand new short story written especially for The Verb.
		20080118		Ian McMillan presents the weekly magazine about language.
		20080125
		20080201		In a special live edition of The Verb, Ian Mcmillan is joined on stage by singer and songwriter Devon Sproule.
		20080208	20080215	Another chance to hear an edition of the programme from last year's Hay Festival where Ian McMillan talked to poet, writer and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. Ian McMillan talks to poet, writer and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and there's surprising and unpredictable performance from Ken Campbell and the School of Night poets. As Valentine's Day approaches, Ian McMillan and his guests explore romance in literature - from early chivalrous tales via the Romantic poets to a brand new modern day love story by award-winning young novelist Rachel Tresize.
		20080222
		20080229		Ian Mcmillan talks to young writer Junot Diaz, who is taking the American literary scene by storm and who has written a new story specially for the programme. Plus a performance from poet and spoken word artist George Pringle.
		20080307		Ian McMillan investigates the art of juggling aphorisms. Plus a new story from novelist Will Ashon.
		20080314	20080321	Another chance to hear an edition of the programme recorded live at the Broadcasting House Radio Theatre, London last September. Ian McMillan is joined by a line-up of writers, performers and singers, including dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and Robert Vanderplank, an expert in global invective and insults.
		20080328		Ian Mcmillan presents the programme live from the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House. He is joined on stage by acclaimed Australian poet John Kinsella and by The Verb's own 'eartoonist' - musician and lyricist Peter Blegvad
		20080404		Nicola Monaghan, who won a Betty Trask Award for her first novel, joins Ian Mcmillan with a new story written especially for the programme.
		20080411
		20080418		Ian McMillan talks to a group of writers who are playing with form, including Adam Foulds, who has just published a narrative poem about the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya in the 1950s. Foulds reveals that although he envisaged a series of short stories, he found that the conflict was best expressed through poetry instead. Jon Canter, who has written comedy for radio and television, explains why the story of his new comic creation, a self-obsessed lawyer, had to be told in a novel and David Gaffney, who created a type of short story called Sawn Off Tales, introduces his experiment in a new form - a 'sawn-off' opera.
		20080425		Ian Mcmillan is joined by Booker Prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro and best-selling jazz singer Stacey Kent to discuss their musical collaboration. The author has contributed lyrics to four songs on Stacey's latest album Breakfast on the Morning Train, one of which she performs in the studio. Plus poet Patience Agbabi on her latest collection, which includes a series of agony aunt letters to troubled writers.
		20080502		Ian McMillan presents a cabaret of language, poetry and performance, in which poet Simon Barraclough reads from and talks about his new collection. Writer Iain Sinclair celebrates the life and work of the poet John Riley, who was associated with the British poetry revival of the 1960s and 70s, and who was murdered 30 years ago at the age of 41. And performance artist and singer-songwriter Baby Dee, possibly best known for her work with Antony and the Johnsons, sings songs from her new album.
		20080509		Ian Mcmillan presents Radio 3's weekly cabaret of language, featuring Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. alias singer and songwriter Sam Duckworth. His opinionated lyrics have led to comparisons with Billy Bragg and he joins Ian to talk about his work and perform songs from his new album.
		20080516		Ian Mcmillan is joined on Radio 3's weekly cabaret of language, poetry and performance by Peter Blegvad who creates one of his aural cartoons - or 'eartoons' - for the show. Also on the programme are singer-songwriter Joan As Police Woman and new poetry from Will Eaves.
		20080523		Ian McMillan presents the weekly cabaret of language, talking to hip-hop musician and performance poet Saul Williams, who also performs in studio. Williams is an internationally acclaimed spoken word artist, who has released several solo albums and also worked with the likes of The Fugees and Erykah Badu.
		20080530		Ian McMillan presents the weekly cabaret of language. He talks to young poet Paul Batchelor, whose work has already won several literary prizes and who is now publishing his first collection. And acclaimed short story writer Ruth Thomas unveils her latest work on the show.
		20080606		Ian McMillan presents the weekly cabaret of language.
		20080613		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly cabaret of language and talks to David Marriott, who is publishing his second volume of poetry, Hoodoo Voodoo. Also, in the programme's returning series Lost Nobel Laureates, Ian assesses the writing life of Nellie Sachs, who was awarded the Prize for Literature in 1966. She was born in Berlin but in 1940 was forced to flee to Switzerland, where, at the age of 50, she embarked on her acclaimed literary career, writing several volumes of poetry and poetic dramas.
		20080620		Ian Mcmillan talks to poet Nathaniel Tarn, who celebrates his 80th birthday this year with three new books. Plus linguist Mark Abley on how new words are being created around the world and are transcending national boundaries, and a new story from young novelist Nicholas Hogg
		20080627		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly cabaret of language and investigates Chinese literature, its traditions and how they are echoed in contemporary poetry and prose. Part of Radio 3's Focus on China season.
		20080704		In a live edition of Radio 3's weekly cabaret of poetry, language and performance, Ian Mcmillan is joined on stage at the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House by Poems in Between People, a group of young performance poets.
		20080711		Ian Mcmillan is joined by poet Peter Porter to discuss the work of Nobel Literary Laureate, Australian author Patrick White. Also featuring singer songwriter Thea Gilmore, and a new story from novelist Bethan Roberts.
		20080919		Ian Mcmillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of performance and new writing. Alan Brownjohn and Peter Wilkinson discuss why Gray's Elegy in a Country Churchyard has been translated into Latin by so many people, including a Lord Chief Justice, a cricketer and the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Plus the programme's language spy Toby Litt reporting back on strange words and phrases he has overheard in the past week, novelist Niven Govinden with a new short story as well as a look back at the work of writer and actor Ken Campbell
		20080926	20090220	Live from the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, Ian Mcmillan's guests on Radio 3's weekly cabaret of language include poet Daljit Nagra, who discusses contemporary Indian poetry, as well as performance artist HKB Finn. From the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, Ian Mcmillan's guests on Radio 3's weekly cabaret of language include poet Daljit Nagra, who discusses contemporary Indian poetry, as well as performance artist HKB Finn. Plus Christine Tobin pays tribute to jazz singer Betty Carter on the 10th anniversary of Carter's death. Ian Mcmillan's guests include poet Daljit Nagra and performance artist HKB Finn.
		20081003		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language. His guests include Paul Farley, who has written a series of poems about work for National Poetry Day, and Doctor Who writer Rob Shearman, who has a new short story written specially for the programme.
		20081010		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language. Featuring beatboxer Shlomo, artist in residence at London's Southbank Centre, and a reflection on the sweet tooth of her Scottish homeland by novelist Janice Galloway, author of Clara and the recent memoir This Is Not about Me.
		20081017		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language. Featuring poet Michael Symmonds Roberts and award-winning 'eartoonist' Peter Blegvad
		20081024		Ian Mcmillan's cabaret of language features writer Tony Marchant, winner of a Bafta award for his TV drama The Mark of Cain, on his new play about abortion, 24 Weeks, written specially for Radio 3's Free Thinking festival. Plus noted indigenous Australian poet and author Anita Heiss in a rare British interview, folk singer and song collector Sam Lee and a new commission from Forward Prize-nominated poet Simon Barraclough.
		20081107		As part of Radio 3's Free Thinking festival, Ian Mcmillan presents a special edition of the show from Liverpool's Bluecoat Gallery. With writer and comedian Alexei Sayle discussin his new novel Mister Roberts, Free Thinking's Writer in Residence Angie Clarke, plus a brand-new 'eartoon' from Sony Award-winning musician and cartoonist Peter Blegvad
		20081114		Ian Mcmillan's cabaret of language includes Clive James discussing his new collection of poetry, Angels over Elsinore, French writer and former Reith lecturer Jacques Darras, plus performance poet Zena Edwards.
		20081121		Ian Mcmillan's cabaret of language includes poet Lemn Sissay with his new collection, Listener and a chat with leading Norwegian writers as they arrive in Britain for Scene Norway, a celebration of Norwegian writing and musical talent. Plus a performance from poet Polar Bear.
		20081128		From Broadcasting House, Ian McMillan is joined by authors AS Byatt and Alison Macleod. Ian McMillan presents the weekly cabaret of language live from the Radio Theatre, Broadcasting House, with a line-up including AS Byatt and novelist Alison MacLeod, who read brand new tales of the uncanny, and public art poet Ira Lightman performing an audacious experiment in sound and text. Plus The Verb's Language Spy Toby Litt, who has been paying close attention to what is written on peoples' t-shirts, discussing what it tells us about them, and cutting edge music and song from Iranian-Welsh electro sensation Roshi. Ian Mcmillan is joined by public art poet Ira Lightman. In a special edition of the programme, live from the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House, London, Ian Mcmillan is joined by public art poet Ira Lightman.
	George Szirtes On His Latest Collection	20081205		Ian Mcmillan's guests include poet George Szirtes and author Steven Hall. Ian Mcmillan's guests include George Szirtes, who talks about his latest collection of poems, which bring together work old and new. Born in Hungary, Szirtes came to Britain in 1956 and works as a poet, translator, writer and librettist, and he won the TS Eliot Prize for his collection of poems Reel in 2005. Plus a new commission, written especially for the programme by author Steven Hall, whose science fiction thriller debut The Raw Shark Texts imagines a man on the run from a conceptual shark that wants to eat his personality.
		20081212		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly cabaret of language, with guests including Anthony Horowitz, the best-selling novelist and creator of teenage spy Alex Rider and popular TV drama series Foyle's War. Known for writing adventure-packed tales of danger and heroism, Horowitz has written a new mini-drama especially for the programme about Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton
		20081219		Featuring a new Christmas commission by poet Kenneth Steven - a lament for snow. Ian McMillan's weekly cabaret of language includes poet Kenneth Steven, who was written a brand new poem for the programme, lamenting the vanished snow of Christmases past. Plus French singer-songwriters Herman Dune discussing their unique brand of Leonard Cohen-influenced pop.
		20090109		Ian Mcmillan's guests include novelist-screenwriters Frederic Raphael and Ronan Bennett. Ian Mcmillan's guests include novelist-screenwriters Ronan Bennett, with an exclusive preview of a work in progress, and Frederic Raphael, who has completed a new translation of Petronius' Satyrica, a scandalous account of life in Nero's Rome.
		20090116		Presented by Ian Mcmillan. Guests include US novelist Edmund White with his new biography of the poet Rimbaud, and an interview with the winner of the 2008 Ts Eliot poetry prize. Guests include American novelist Edmund White, with his new biography of the poet Rimbaud.
		20090123		Ian Mcmillan's guests include Orange Prize-nominated novelist Xiaolu Guo, with a new short story written specially for the programme, and Buddhist singer-songwriter Padma. Born near Sheffield, for many years Padma believed he was destined for a Buddhist order, but finally gave up the idea of a monk's life to write songs. Inspired by the writings of Henry David Thoreau, he currently lives in a yurt in the Pyrenees when not recording or performing, and joins Ian in the studio to perform tracks from his EP Songs for an Entryphone. Featuring a new story from novelist Xiaolu Guo, written specially for the programme.
		20090130		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language. Including: Speech Debelle http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/aqr/ richard chiappone gives an insight into alaska's writing scene ian interviews Peter Porter who arrived in the uk from australia fifty years ago and considers himself part of the present-day poetical worlds of both nations. in his 80th year porter has just published his 18th collection of poetry entitled ‘better than god’. he delights us with readings from the book. alaskan writers on the 50th anniversary of alaska becoming the 49th state of america, ian speaks with alaskan-based writers, rich chiappone, author of ‘water of an undetermined depth’ and ronald spatz, editor of the alaska quarterly review about the literature of those wild and remote lands. we also hear a reading of rich chiappone’s comic short story ‘ladies’ hockey’. alaska quarterly rapper and singer speech debelle performs her unique brand of music live in the studio. her voice is warm, youthful and light but you’d be mistaken to think her lyrics were equally so. she speaks with ian about the personal inspiration for her songs and her love for rhyme. speech debelle’s website - http://www.speechdebelle.com/ speech debelle’s myspace page - http://www.myspace.com/speechdebellemusic Peter Porter Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language. he is joined by alaskan writer richard chiappone, who brings with him a new short story written especially for the programme and an insight into alaska's writing scene. plus novelist Toby Litt with his guide to the experimental literary movement oulipo. richard chiappone gives an insight into alaska's writing scene
		20090206		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly cabaret of language from the BBC Radio Theatre. His guests include Nitin Sawhney, with a new collaboration written especially for the programme with novelist Gemma Weekes, as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Charles Simic. Plus novelist Iain Sinclair, who takes the audience on a tour of literary East London, and a brand new Eartoon from Sony Award-winner Peter Blegvad. Ian Mcmillan is joined by guests Nitin Sawhney, Charles Simic and Iain Sinclair
	Nick Harkaway/alex Horne	20090213		Ian Mcmillan's guests include novelist Nick Harkaway, author of The Gone-Away World, with a new commission written specially for the programme, and The Verb's Language Spy Alex Horne, who's been listening in to the language of football chants. Ian Mcmillan's guests are novelist Nick Harkaway, and The Verb's language spy Alex Horne
	Shlomo		20090320	Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language. Featuring beatboxer Shlomo, artist in residence at London's Southbank Centre, and a reflection on the sweet tooth of her Scottish homeland by novelist Janice Galloway, author of Clara and the recent memoir This Is Not about Me. With Ian Mcmillan. Featuring beatboxer Shlomo and novelist Janice Galloway
	Graham Swift	20090327		Ian Mcmillan's weekly cabaret of language features Booker Prize-winner Graham Swift - author of novels including Last Orders and Waterland - revealing a little-discussed aspect of his writing - his poetry. There is also be a chance to hear a rare interview with dissident Lithuanian poet and translator Tomas Venclova. Stripped of Soviet citizenship for his political views in 1977, he was forced into exile. His latest collection, The Junction, reflects on the aftermath of totalitarianism in his native country. Ian Mcmillan's guests include novelist Graham Swift and Lithuanian poet Tomas Venclova.
	Graham Coxon And Toby Litt	20090403		Ian Mcmillan presents a special edition of the cabaret of language from the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House. As Blur announce their eagerly anticipated reunion, Ian's guests include singer-songwriter and former guitarist with the band Graham Coxon, with songs from his new album. Plus novelist Toby Litt, who takes a dog's-eye view of literature, as seen through the eyes of Toto, Lassie, Bullseye and other famous literary dogs. Ian Mcmillan's guests include ex-Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and novelist Toby Litt
	Aravind Adiga And Polly Scattergood	20090410		Ian Mcmillan's guests include Booker Prize winner Aravind Adiga, who previews his novel Between the Assassinations, and singer songwriter Polly Scattergood, who has been called 'the Kate Bush of the 21st century'. Plus new poetry from Kate Kilalea and The Verb's language spy Alex Horne with another investigation into the language that surrounds us. Ian Mcmillan talks to Booker Prize winner Aravind Adiga about his forthcoming novel.
	Andrew Motion And Graham Coxon	20090417		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language. Ian asks Andrew Motion to reflect on his time as Poet Laureate. Motion has admitted to finding the role damaging to his work as a poet, and as he prepares to step down from the post after ten years and publishes his last collection of poems as Laureate, The Cinder Path, Ian asks what the future holds for Motion and for the office of Poet Laureate itself. And former Blur guitarist and songwriter Graham Coxon presents songs from album The Spinning Top. Ian Mcmillan's guests are Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and ex-Blur guitarist Graham Coxon.
	James Patterson And Gillian Clarke	20090424		Ian Mcmillan talks to bestselling novelist James Patterson about thriller writing, discussing subjects including what makes the perfect thriller, how many twists and cliffhangers are needed to keep readers' interest and how to create the perfect hero and the perfect villain. plus wales's national poet Gillian Clarke reading from her latest collection, zimbabwean novelist brian chikwava, author of harare north, with a new short programme and music in gaelic from alyth. Ian Mcmillan talks to bestselling thriller writer james patterson and poet gillian clark story written specially for the
	Wendy Cope And Vesna Maric	20090501		Ian Mcmillan talks to poet Wendy Cope about The Audience, her witty new poetic portraits of classical concert goers. Written to be performed by Cope herself, along with the Endellion String Quartet, The Audience profiles such concert stalwarts as the Cougher, the Drinker, the Critic and the Traditionalist. Bosnian author Vesna Maric remembers cult Croatian trainer brand Starta. Her memoir of coming to the UK as a refugee from the war in Bosnia, Bluebird, was BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week in early 2009. She takes a look at the curious cult history of Startas, the Croation trainer brand she grew up wearing. Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language.
	Mendelssohn Weekend: Victorian Literature Special	20090508		As part of BBC Radio 3's Mendelssohn Weekend, Ian Macmillan's weekly programme dedicated to poetry and the spoken word explores the literary life of the 19th century, from its grand visions and Romanticism to its more curious and eccentric writers. Novelist and The Verb regular Toby Litt talks about some of the lesser-known poet laureates of the period, including Robert Southey, William Wordsworth and the unfortunate Alfred Austin, Tennyson's much-mocked successor, whom Robert Browning dismissed as the 'Banjo Byron'. Ergo Phizmiz presents some 'pointballing', his series of eclectic experiments in sound and language, this time with a Victorian flavour and in the spirit of the nonsense poetry of Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll. And novelist Gregory Norminton, author of Serious Things, reads The Chronic Omnibus, his new Wellsian tale of how the Victorians saw the future. Presented by Ian Macmillan. Exploring the literary life of the 19th century.
	Colm Toibin And Ck Stead	20090515		Ian Mcmillan's cabaret of language features award-winning novelist Colm Toibin, who presents a short story written specially for the programme and discusses his novel Brooklyn. Plus controversial New Zealand poet, novelist and critic CK Stead, talking about his collected poems and also reflecting on returning to writing after a stroke left him unable to read.
	Will Self, Dannie Abse And Fred D'aguiar	20090522		In a special edition from the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House, for Radio 3's Poetry Season, Ian Mcmillan talks to veteran poet Dannie Abse about his six decades of writing. American poet Fred D'aguiar reads salty tales of adventures on the high seas from his new collection The Pirate Songbook. And novelist Will Self presents a preview of his latest book, Walking to the World, which charts his journey from the late JG Ballard's house in Shepperton to The World in Dubai, a collection of artificial islands shaped like countries. A special edition featuring Will Self, Dannie Abse and Fred D'aguiar
	Short Story Competition Winners	20090529		Ian Mcmillan is joined by Radio 3 Breakfast presenter Rob Cowan to announce the winner of The Verb's short story competition. Coinciding with the BBC's Poetry Season, Poetry Lab - the cheeky younger brother of Ian Mcmillan's hugely popular Writing Lab - returns, with some of the nation's leading poetic talents leading masterclasses in the finer points of writing poetry. This time, Forward Prize winner Daljit Nagra gives advice on how to write the perfect opening to a poem. Plus music from George Pringle, and a guide to Arabic literature by celebrated Egyptian novelist and author of The Yacoubian Building, Alaa Al-Aswany. Ian Mcmillan and poet Daljit Nagra discuss how to write the perfect opening to a poem.
	Poetry Lab/joseph Smith	20090605		Ian Mcmillan presents the programme about language, which includes the Poetry Lab. Ian talks to Zoe Heller about her passion for novelist Nancy Mitford, and Forward Prize Winner Daljit Nagra has advice for aspiring poets There is also a new, moving short story from novelist Joseph Smith, author of The Wolf. Ian Mcmillan talks to novelist Zoe Heller and Daljit Nagra has advice for aspiring poets.
	Rebecca Lenkiewicz	20090612		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language, which includes dramatist Rebecca Lenkiewicz, author of Shoreditch Madonna and Her Naked Skin with a new specially-written monologue. Plus the band The Leisure Society, nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for their song The Last of the Melting Snow. Songwriter Nicholas Hemming tells Ian Mcmillan his rise from bein an unknown to competing with the likes of Elbow for a major music award. Ian Mcmillan's guests include dramatist Rebecca Lenkiewicz, with a brand new monologue.
	Jen Hadfield	20090619		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly cabaret of language, which includes a collaboration between Ts Eliot Prize winner Jen Hadfield, and electronic musician and songwriter Leafcutter John. The result of several months' work, it combines local dialect spoken by residents of Hadfield's native Shetland with the innovative musicianship of Leafcutter John. Ian Mcmillan's guests include Ts Eliot Prize winner Jen Hadfield.
		20090626		Ian Mcmillan's guests include novelist Niven Govinden, author of Graffiti My Soul, with a new short story written specially for the programme. She Needs Him is a tale from the dark side of celebrity culture, in which an ex-girlband member tries to recover her career - and her figure - under the watchful eyes of a shadowy minder. And there are further verbal adventures from The Verb's language spy Alex Horne
	Joe Dunthorne/basil Bunting	20090703		Ian Mcmillan's guests include novelist Joe Dunthorne, author of Submarine, with a new short story written specially for the programme. And to coincide with a new edition of the celebrated poem Briggflatts, Ian talks about its author - modernist poet Basil Bunting. Ian Mcmillan's guests include novelist Joe Dunthorne, with a new short story.
		20090710
	Nick Harkaway, Alan Hollinghurst And Toby Litt	20090918		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly cabaret of language, which includes a new commission from novelist Nick Harkaway, who has re-imagined a much-loved classic as a deep space adventure. He reveals which one this is. Novelists Alan Hollinghurst and Toby Litt delve into the obsessive world of fiendish literary quiz Nemo's Almanac, and there are haunting songs from the American frontier by singer-songwriter MacGillivray. Ian Mcmillan with a commission from Nick Harkaway. Plus Alan Hollinghurst and Toby Litt
	Sophie Woolley/alex Horne/public Poetry	20090925		Ian Mcmillan's spoken word cabaret features a new commission from writer and performer Sophie Woolley, an audacious linguistic experiment from the programme's Language Spy Alex Horne, plus poet Alec Finlay on an exciting public poetry project.
	Dreda Say Mitchell	20091002		Ian Mcmillan's cabaret of language features award-winning novelist Dreda Say Mitchell, who presents a new piece of fiction she has written specially for the programme. Ian Mcmillan's cabaret of language features award-winning novelist Dreda Say Mitchell.
	2009 Forward Poetry Prize	20091009		Ian Mcmillan talks to the newly-announced winner of the 2009 Forward Poetry Prize.
		20091016		Ian McMillan's guests include celebrated American novelist John Irving and award-winning writer Frank Cottrell Boyce, who has written a new ghost story for the programme. Ian McMillan's guests include novelist John Irving and writer Frank Cottrell Boyce.
		20091030		Free Thinking 2009 Ian McMillan presents a special edition of Radio 3's cabaret of the word, recorded in front of an audience at the Sage, Gateshead, during the Free Thinking festival. Dramatist and writer Peter Flannery made his name as resident playwright at the Royal Shakespeare Company in the late 1970s - it was there that he wrote Our Friends in the North, which he later adapted into a multi-award-winning TV series starring Christopher Eccleston, Daniel Craig and Gina McKee. More recently, he has received plaudits for his ambitious drama The Devil's Whore, set during the chaos of the English Civil War. In 1997, he received the Dennis Potter award for television writing. He talks to Ian McMillan about his writing career and there is a sneak preview of a work in progress. Kachi Ozumba's novel The Shadow of a Smile received plaudits in 2008 for its portrayal of corruption and unfair imprisonment in the author's native Nigeria. Now living in the UK, Ozumba has made Newcastle his home and he tells Ian McMillan about his struggle to understand Geordie when he first arrived in the city and how, as his familiarity with the dialect grew, he was in turn emboldened to use Nigerian English - pidgin - in his novel. Ian McMillan's guests in a Free Thinking edition are Peter Flannery and Kachi Ozumba.
	Frieda Hughes/greyworld	20091106		Ian Mcmillan talks to Frieda Hughes about her latest poetry collection, The Book of Mirrors, and marks the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a discussion of German literature post 1989. Plus a chance to experience the Greyworld sound installation from the 2009 Free Thinking festival. Ian Mcmillan talks to Frieda Hughes about her latest poetry collection.
	Paul Durcan/halldor Laxness	20091113		Ian Mcmillan's guests include poet Paul Durcan, who discusses a new collection that spans 40 years of writing. Plus the return of the occasional Lost Laureates series, which this time focuses on Icelandic novelist Halldor Laxness. Ian Mcmillan talks to poet Paul Durcan about his latest collection.
	Kenneth Steven	20091120		Ian Mcmillan is joined by poet Kenneth Steven, who reads from A Song among the Stones, his new cycle of poems written specially for the programme. Ian Mcmillan introduces a new commission from poet Kenneth Steven
		20091127		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language.
	Arto Vaun/school Of Night	20091204		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly cabaret of language. He talks to American-Armenian poet Arto Vaun about his collection Capillarity; and the late Ken Campbell's unique improvisational troupe The School of Night apply their anarchic energy to Shakespeare, from his unfunniest 'funny' scenes to a wealth of 'boring lords'. Ian Mcmillan's word cabaret features poet Arto Vaun and improvisation by School of Night.
	Cookery Writing/david Harsent	20091211		As the festive season approaches, Ian Mcmillan and guests consider the mouthwatering delights of cookery writing; and award-winning poet David Harsent presents brand new poems. Ian Mcmillan's word cabaret includes new writing from award-winning poet David Harsent.
	Matthew Holness/joe Dunthorne	20091218		Ian Mcmillan presents the weekly programme about language live from the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, with brand new writing from Perrier Award-winning comedian Matthew Holness. Best known as the creator of Titan of Terror , the spoof thriller writer Garth Marenghi, Matthew introduces the audience to a brand new comedy character. And unable to resist some festive rapping, poet Joe Dunthorne tries his hand at hip hop - and needs a little help from the audience. With Ian Mcmillan. Featuring new writing from award-winning comedian Matthew Holness
	Jonathan Lethem/john Ashbery	20100108		Ian McMillan's cabaret of the spoken word features novelist Jonathan Lethem and a rare interview with the celebrated American avant-garde poet John Ashbery, who reflects on half a century of writing. Ian McMillan meets novelist Jonathan Lethem and avant-garde American poet John Ashbery.
	Peter Blegvad/wu Ming/darrell Lloyd	20100115		Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word, featuring an encounter between Eartoonist Peter Blegvad and the writing collective Wu Ming. Ian also introduces fiction from new talent Darrell Lloyd, who has won several Verb writing competitions. Ian McMillan's cabaret of the word includes new fiction from Darrell Lloyd.
	New European Writing/kate Kilalea/kevin Jackson/laura Veirs/the Poetry Of Charles Bukowski	20100122		New European Writing Novelist Aleksandar Hemon, author of The Lazarus Project, discusses his new collection of the best European short stories, and argues that the quantity of short fiction now being written threatens the survival of the form. Best European Fiction 2010, Edited by Aleksandar Hemon, is out now from Dalkey Archive. Hennecker's Ditch The poet Kate Kilalea presents a brand new cycle of poems, written specially for the programme. Epitaphs The writer and film-maker Kevin Jackson has been peering at the inscriptions on grave stones for The Verb. Laura Veirs Singer-songwriter Laura Veirs's album July Flame is shot through with vivid and beautiful nature writing - she explains to Ian how a having a scientist for a father, growing up in Colorado and studying geology all contributed to her unique voice. July Flame is out now from Bella Union. Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word.
		20100129		A live edition of Ian McMillan's cabaret of the word from the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, featuring a Chekhov-inspired performance by improvisational group The Factory, and a new commission from Rebecca Lenkiewicz who recently became the first living female playwright to have her work performed on the Olivier stage of the National Theatre. Ian McMillan presents a special edition from the BBC Radio Theatre.
	Evie Wyld/catalan Poems	20100205		Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word, this week featuring brand new writing from Evie Wyld, winner of the 2009 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, and a unique series of Catalan poems inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper. Presented by Ian McMillan. With new writing from Evie Wyld, plus Catalan poems.
	Turkish Literature - Orhan Pamuk	20100212		As part of Radio 3's focus on Turkey, Ian McMillan presents a special edition of Radio 3's cabaret of the word, focussing on Turkish literature, and featuring an interview with Orhan Pamuk and an exploration of the Turkey's influential poetic avant-garde in the 1950s, the Ikinci Yeni. McMillan talks to Pamuk, who is as controversial figure in his own country as he is feted abroad, about the political stance he has taken on issues such as the history of Turkey's relationship with its Armenian population, and the personal cost to him of that stance. Pamuk also discusses his new novel, The Museum of Innocence, and its portrayal of a Turkish elite stranded between the traditions of their own country and the shallow distractions of Western consumerism. Ian will also be exploring the lasting influence of the poets who made up the Ikinci Yeni, or Second New, Turkey's avant garde poetry scene in the 1950s. The work of Ece Ayhan, Ilhan Berk and their colleagues remains little-known outside Turkey, and yet their influence is discernible in the work of many contemporary Turkish writers, Orhan Pamuk among them. The programme will also feature the best new Turkish writing and profile the English writers who have chosen to make Istanbul (one of this year's European Capitals of Culture) their home. Ian McMillan presents a special edition focusing on Turkish literature. With Orhan Pamuk.
	Will Self, Dannie Abse And Fred D'aguiar	20100219		Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word in front of an audience at the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House. He talks to veteran poet Dannie Abse about his six decades of writing. American poet Fred D'Aguiar reads from his collection Continental Shelf, and reveals new work The Pirate Songbook - with a little musical help from Meone. Novelist Will Self presents an extract from book, Walking to the World, which charts his journey from the late JG Ballard's house in Shepperton to The World in Dubai, a collection of artificial islands shaped like countries. And writer and performer Zena Edwards presents tales from the London Underground - Tube Sage (R) Producer Belinda NaylorLaura Thomas.
	Joshua Ferris	20100226		Radio 3's cabaret of the word, presented by Ian McMillan. Novelist Joshua Ferris reflects on literary representations of the soul. Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word. With novelist Joshua Ferris.
	Scottish Edition	20100305		class="blq-clearfix"> Ian McMillan presents a special Scottish edition of Radio 3's cabaret of the word, featuring brand new writing from novelist Louise Welsh, poet Liz Lochhead and singer songwriter Aidan Moffat. Ian McMillan presents a special Scottish edition of Radio 3's cabaret of the word.
	Ross Sutherland	20100312		Ian McMillan presents a special live edition of Radio 3's cabaret of the word from the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, with guests including poet and performer Ross Sutherland... Ian McMillan presents a special edition, with guests including poet Ross Sutherland.
	Clive James, Jacques Darras, Will Eaves, Zena Edwards		20100319	Ian McMillan presents Radio 3's cabaret of the word, this week featuring Clive James on his collected poems, Angels Over Elsinore, and French poet Jacques Darras on translating the work of late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes into French. Also in the programme, brand new writing from novelist Will Eaves and performance from Zena Edwards. Producer: Laura Thomas (rpt). Ian McMillan's guests includes Clive James and French writer Jacques Darras.
	Don Paterson/nick Harkaway/nemo's Almanac/macgillivray
	Dreda Say Mitchell/simone Felice/larissa Miller
	Joe Dunthorne/basil Bunting
	John Irving/frank Cottrell Boyce/free Thinking 2009/oed Historical Thesaurus
	Peter Flannery/kachi Ozumba/alec Finlay And Linda France/beccy Owen
	Sophie Woolley/alex Horne/sam Lee And Thomas Mccarthy
LAST		20030712		For the final programme in the current series, The Verb becomes 'The Sentence' as Ian McMillan introduces new writing and performance about nouns, verbs, adjectives and other parts of speech. There's an original story from Toby Litt, written without verbs, and a new poem by Kenneth Steven mourning lost verbs like yealming, pleaching and ethering.