POET and broadcaster Ian McMillan, presenter of Radio 3’s The Verb programme and considered by many as “one of the funniest people in Britain” will be bringing his unique wit and engaging style to next month’s Winchester Poetry Festival.

Described by the Times Editorial Supplement as "the Shirley Bassey of performance poetry”, Ian (pictured) will get the three-day festival off to a flying start on Friday, October 5, from 6.30pm-7.30pm, when he opens proceedings by performing and reading from his most recent book,To Fold the Evening Star.

Festival organisers have also invited Ian to inspire a younger generation of poets - so during the afternoon he’ll be taking time to sweep into Winchester’s nearby St Bede’s Primary School and lead the school assembly, as well as take a creative writing class.

Ian, described by Poet Laureate Carol-Ann Duffy as “one of today’s greatest poetry performers”, is a favourite with radio listeners. His books of poems, stories and non-fiction have drawn audiences for almost 40 years.

Noted for his Yorkshire-inflected style, Ian is poet-in-residence for The Academy of Urbanism and Barnsley FC.

He is also a regular on BBC Breakfast, Coast, Pick of the Week, You & Yours, Last Word and The Arts Show and has been a castaway on Desert Island Discs.

But few people know that he has also been poet-in-residence at English National Opera, as well as providing voiceovers in adverts for a laundry detergent and a branded food product.

Designed to foster and develop poetry across all ages, the poetry festival has sponsored some groundbreaking community projects this year, among them a residency at Treloar School in Holybourne, near Alton, with poet and artist Sophie Herxheimer. During the festival weekend Sophie, who is also the festival’s poetic artist-in-residence, will be displaying poetry flags made by disabled young people at Treloar’s and inviting festival guests to make their own objects.

The festival takes place at Winchester Discovery Centre from October 5-7.

Visit winchesterpoetryfestival.org.