Roger McGough to appear at York Literature Festival 2014

One of the UK’s most famous and respected poets, Roger McGough, has been confirmed as one of the headline acts at York Literature Festival 2014. McGough will perform at Joseph Rowntree Theatre on Friday 28 March at 7.30pm.  

McGough is well known as a champion of poetry, and is the current presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please. He was one of the Mersey Poets, alongside Brian Patten and Adrian Henri. As a member of pop group The Scaffold, he penned the lyrics for number one hit 'Lily The Pink' in 1968. He also contributed to the script for The Beatles’ 'Yellow Submarine' Film. His work has appeared in over 50 books, and has included writing for children and autobiography. He is an honorary fellow of Liverpool John Moores University, fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and President of the Poetry Society. McGough was made an OBE in 1997 and a CBE in 2004.

Miles Salter, Director of York Literature Festival said: 
"We are delighted to welcome Roger McGough to the 2014 Festival. He has been a figurehead for British poetry and spoken word and is a nationally known presenter of poetry."

"The 2014 festival will run from 20–31 March and will feature well-known names as well as writers from the York area. The Festival is sponsored by York St John University and has recently secured funding from several sources including the Community York Fund from City of York Council, the Arts Council, and Clore Duffield Foundation for a project with Young People."

"We have raised over £20,000 towards the 2014 festival," said Miles Salter, "and have some nationally recognised names from the worlds of literature, politics and broadcasting coming to York. We’re looking forward to an ambitious festival that will attract visitors to York from around the UK. It’s great to see the festival develop incrementally each year."

In 2013, the festival had its most successful year to date, with gross ticket sales topping £10,000 for the first time. The festival was started in 2007 by City of York Council’s Libraries section, and became a voluntary group in August 2009. The Festival works with local partners including York St John University, York Theatre Royal, York Museums Trust, City Screen Cinema, St Peter’s School and more.