Andrew McMillan’s new poetry collection physical has won this year’s Fenton Aldeburgh first collection prize. His book, described by one of the judges, Tiffany Atkinson, as “a dazzling meditation on contemporary masculinity … intimate and performative”, was also shortlisted for the Forward best first collection prize.

The award was announced at the Aldeburgh poetry festival on Friday night. McMillan, pictured with last year’s Fenton Aldeburgh winner, Helen Mort, said after receiving the award that his collection was “quite personal and intimate”, and added that at one time he “kind of thought no one would want to publish it”. More details