The popular writer, comedian, poet and film and TV producer Henry Normal is turning down an MBE, he revealed to an audience at Whitley Bay during a performance last night. He made the announcement and gave his reasons why when introducing one of his trademark comic poems, about being awarded a series of medals for carrying out domestic duties around the house (see picture). Henry Normal is currently on tour with fellow poet Brian Bilston. He told Write Out Loud that his wife Ange “opened the official letter yesterday and read it to me. I mentioned it to Brian before the show and announced it at the show.

“"I appreciate those that have been inspired by my work enough to put me forward. But I won’t be accepting it. There are two reasons - firstly I couldn’t accept any medal that incorporates the word ‘Empire’. Whilst I imagine there are things about the British Empire, as was, that were positive, there are other aspects that definitely weren’t. I would feel uncomfortable being part of perpetuating its legacy.

“Secondly - if a medal was offered by the government national or local it might be different. But I have been a lifelong British republican, and though I respect and admire some members of the royal family, I disagree with the institution as head of state.

“I would like every child that is born in Britain to be born equal under the law and every position of power to be available to all honest citizens. The thought that in 2025 children are still being born as second class and subjects saddens me. My wife has recently given me a medal for loading the dishwasher and that is good enough for me.”

Henry Normal has in recent years has revived his poetry, publishing a number of books with Manchester-based Flapjack Press, after a highly successful career in television.

He was the founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Manchester Literature Festival), and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. He co-wrote the first series of the comedy series The Royle Family with Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, and in 2017, he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to television.

In 1991 he starred in Channel 4's late night series, Packet of Three, which blended stand-up comedy with a sitcom about the staff working at a variety theatre called the Crumpsall Palladium, with Frank Skinner and Jenny Eclair. He co-wrote and script-edited the multi-award-winning Mrs Merton Show and the spin-off series Mrs Merton and Malcolm. With Steve Coogan, he co-wrote the BAFTA-winning Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan's Run, Tony Ferrino, Dr Terrible's House of Horrible, and the film The Parole Officer.

He set up Baby Cow Productions with Steve Coogan in 1999, and was its managing director until his retirement in 2016. Among many hits Baby Cow produced Gavin and Stacey, the Alan Partridge film, and the multi-Oscar- nominated film Philomena. Since then he has written and performed a number of Radio 4 shows combining comedy, poetry and stories about his life and family.

Poetry crowd-pleasers: Henry Normal and Brian Bilston review