Roger McGough

Roger McGough was born in Liverpool and is still closely identified with the city. He temporarily left Merseyside to study in Hull, where he encountered (but didn't dare speak to) Philip Larkin, a warden in his hall of residence.

He worked as a teacher and lecturer back in Liverpool and with fellow poets Brian Patten and Adrian Henri published the bestselling Mersey Sound poetry collection in 1967.

The following year Roger achieved chart success with his band The Scaffold - their single "Lily the Pink" made it to No 1 in 1968.

Mike McCartney, one of Roger's fellow band members, had a brother called Paul who played in a lesser known band, The Beatles.

Since then, Roger has written for theatre, film and television and remains best known for his poetry.

For more than three decades he has captivated adults and children alike with his unique blend of heart and wit.

His most recent collection, Everyday Eclipses, was published by Penguin in 2002.

Much travelled and translated he is now an international ambassador for poetry and was awarded an OBE for his work in 1997.

In 2001 he was honoured with the Freedom of the City of Liverpool.

He presents Poetry Please for Radio 4 and lives in London.