The rock and roll lives of the poets

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HENRY NORMAL, who helped bring Gavin and Stacey and Alan Partridge to life with production company Baby Cow, has spoken about the rebellious ways of modern poets. He recalls one incident in which he picked up John Cooper Clarke for a show at 3pm, only to find the poet eating a custard tart — for his breakfast. Then there’s Lemn Sissay, who Normal says had to be fed the lines of his own poem while on his radio show after partying too hard. Normal has now left the industry to publish his verse collections, The Beauty Within Shadow and The Distance Between Clouds. Here’s hoping he can manage the lifestyle …