The BBC Radio 4 programme You and Yours says it wants to hear from anyone who has taken to writing poetry as a result of the pandemic. In an item last week the programme looked at why some people, including their listeners, are turning to poetry for solace as a way of coping with life in lockdown, and heard from poet and BBC presenter Ian McMillan about why he thought poetry can help people at the moment. Anyone interested in contacting the programme should email youandyours@bbc.co.uk and include a phone number so they can call you back. You should say clearly if you wish to remain anonymous as your message may be read out on air or published electronically.

Meanwhile ITV’s London News has been ending its half-hourly bulletin just before 6.30pm with a poem by a London poet. Here’s a video of one of the poets, Ollie Feather from south London, reading Hour of the People’. Another video features Aimee Corry, a drama student from north London, with her poem, 'The Edge'.