Peter Porter On Air

Sean O'Brien celebrates the life and work of the late poet and broadcaster Peter Porter, with fellow-Australian poet, Clive James, novelist Julian Barnes and poet and editor of Poetry Review, Fiona Sampson.

Shortly before he died last month at the age of 81, the Australian-born poet and broadcaster Peter Porter gave his final interview to fellow-poet Sean O'Brien. From high up in his Bayswater flat, he reflected on how life has changed in the sixty years that he has lived in Britain and on how his own faith in poetry has strengthened in the face of personal loss, Illness and death.

Sean has also spoken with fellow-Australian poet and broadcaster Clive James, to the novelist Julian Barnes and to the younger poet and editor of Poetry Review, Fiona Sampson. They shares memories of Porter's prodigious learning and great kindness, his love of cats, long lunches and music, while also grappling with the challenges some of his poems present.

The programme features Porter himself reading from well-known works such as An Exequy as well as from a final collection, to be published posthumously.

Producer: Beaty Rubens.

A celebration of the life and work of the late poet and broadcaster Peter Porter.