One of the most original challenging poets writing in Britain today…
Full of light and hope


Daily Mail

  • 2023 Legend Award from Variety

  • 2023 Freedom of The City of London.

  • 2023 Honorary Doctor Leicester University

  • 2023 Honorary Fellow Mansfield College Oxford

  • 2022 Manchester Culture Awards: Special recognition award,

  • 2022 Ness Award Royal Geographical Society

  • 2022 Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature #FRSL

  • 2022 Making A Difference Award University of Manchester

  • 2022 Honorary Chair in Creative Writing University of Manchester.

  • 2022 Honorary Bencher Inner Temple

  • 2021 Honorary Fellow Jesus College Cambridge

  • 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours OBE.

  • 2021 Grierson Award - Nominee

  • 2021 Winner Indie Book Awards (non Fiction)

  • 2021 Essex University Honorary Doctorate

  • 2021 Broadcast Awards - nominee

  • 2020 RTS Award - nominee

  • 2019 Grierson Award - nominee

  • 2019, PEN Pinter Prize

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE TIMES, GUARDIAN, DAILY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY TIMES, OBSERVER, NEW STATESMAN, METRO, DAILY MAIL, SUNDAY EXPRESS and HERALD

  • 2004, Race in the Media Award (RIMA)

  • 2010, New Years Honours MBE (services to literature)

  • 2013, Honorary Doctor of Letters University of Huddersfield

  • 2014, Fellow of Foundling Museum

  • 2015, Citation from Congress

  • 2015, Chancellor at University of Manchester

  • 2015, Honorary Doctor of Letters University of Manchester

  • 2015 Palm D’or Nominee, Best Radio Entertainment

  • 2016, Doubleday Award

  • 2016, NESTA New Radical Award

  • 2016, Bikila Award Toronto

  • 2017, Points of Light Award from Prime Minister

  • 2017, Seed Award Toronto

  • 2017, The Times Alternative Rich List

  • 2018, University of Kent Honorary Doctor

  • 2019, BAFTA - nominee

  • 2019, University of Brunel Honorary Doctor