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The Verb

Two Hundred Forty Three episodes. First broadcast from 20020406 to 20080711.

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

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
	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: plié, 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.
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.
		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.
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.
		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		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.
			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.
		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.