Audiobooks Narrated by Henry Normal

Lemn Sissay is the One and Only: A BBC Radio 4 Series

Award-winning writer Lemn Sissay explores the idea of uniqueness across different aspects of his life 'Creative, surprising - and unique' The Telegraph If you Google 'Lemn Sissay', all the results will be about him - he's the only person in the world with that name. But that's not the only thing that makes him unique. In this fascinating series, he mixes stand-up, poetry and interviews to explore four more situations in his life where he stood out, alone, and examines how that uniqueness made him feel. 'The Only Poet on the Bill' finds Lemn considering his formative years on the 1980s comedy circuit, and chatting to fellow poet Tony Walsh about performing his poem 'This is the Place' at the vigil for the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. In 'The Only Non-Graduate at the Graduation', he reflects on being appointed Chancellor at Manchester University, and giving out degrees despite not having one himself. He also speaks to the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Donna Ludford, about how she felt becoming a councillor without having attended university. 'The Only Black Man in the Village' sees Lemn drawing on his experience of growing up in an all-white town, and talking to Oscar-nominated writer/director Cornelius Walker about his documentary Black Sheep. And in 'The Only Foster Child in the House', he discusses his adolescence in children's homes and his lifetime of advocacy for young people raised in the care system, as well as speaking to campaigner and care leaver champion Terry Galloway. In each episode, Lemn is joined by Henry Normal, who interrupts at will to ask questions about the show. Comprising Lemn's signature blend of artistic yet extraordinarily honest comedy, this absorbing series explores issues of race, class, education and lack of empowerment, asking thought-provoking questions about how we define ourselves, and why it matters. Cast and credits Written and performed by Lemn Sissay With Tony Walsh, Donna Ludford, Cornelius Walker, Terry Galloway Commentary: Henry Normal Recorded by Jerry Peal Sound mixing by Rich Evans Produced by Ed Morrish A Lead Mojo production for BBC Radio 4 First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 3-24 March 2023 © 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Lemn Sissay (Author), Cornelius Walker, Donna Ludford, Henry Normal, Terry Galloway, Tony Walsh (Narrator)

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Staring Directly at the Eclipse

Henry Normal's first poetry book in over twenty years, combining both new and selected poems from his previous performance work. This collection encompasses the subjects of love, death, loneliness, loss, human frailty and other classic conversation stoppers. Narrated by the author. 'Succinct, heartrending and peppered with gentle punchlines' - The Guardian 'The Alan Bennett of poetry' - The Scotsman Henry Normal is a writer, poet, TV and film producer, founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Manchester Literature Festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to television. Henry co-wrote and script edited the multi-award-winning Mrs Merton Show and the spin-off series Mrs Merton and Malcolm. He also co-created and co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family. With Steve Coogan, he co-wrote the BAFTA-winning Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan's Run, Tony Ferrino, Doctor Terrible, all of Steve's live tours, and the film The Parole Officer. Setting up Baby Cow Productions Ltd in 1999, Henry Executive Produced all and script edited many of the shows during his tenure as MD. Highlights of the Baby Cow output during this time include Oscar-nominated Philomena, I Believe in Miracles, Gavin and Stacey, Moone Boy, The Mighty Boosh, Marion and Geoff, Red Dwarf, Uncle, Nighty Night, Hunderby, Camping and Alan Partridge. Since retiring in April 2016, Henry has written and performed six BBC Radio 4 shows, A Normal Family, A Normal Life, A Normal Love, A Normal Imagination, A Normal Nature and A Normal Universe, combining comedy, poetry and stories about bringing up his autistic son. Born in St Ann's, Nottingham, Henry now lives in Brighton with the screenwriter Angela Pell and their son, Johnny. He was recently given honorary degrees by both Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham University and is Patron of Nottingham City Arts and Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature.

Henry Normal (Author), Henry Normal (Narrator)

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The Beauty Within Shadow

The Beauty Within Shadow is narrated by Henry Normal. Written between August 2019 and June 2020, these poems are concerned with the balancing of darkness and light in our everyday lives, the search for an understanding of pain and sorrow, and the processing of other thoughts we’d usually avoid by filling our days with mindless distractions. 'Shove up National Treasures. We need to make room for Henry Normal.' - Radio Times 'The Alan Bennett of poetry' - The Scotsman 'Distinctly funny' - Time Out 'Witty and uncannily accurate with his observations.' - The Stage 'Dovetails bittersweet poetry with a sublimely observant wit.' - The Guardian Henry Normal is a writer, poet, TV and film producer, founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Manchester Literature Festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to television. Henry co-wrote and script edited the multi-award-winning Mrs Merton Show and the spin-off series Mrs Merton and Malcolm. He also co-created and co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family. With Steve Coogan, he co-wrote the BAFTA-winning Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan’s Run, Tony Ferrino, Doctor Terrible, all of Steve’s live tours and the film The Parole Officer. Setting up Baby Cow Productions Ltd in 1999, Henry Executive Produced all, and script edited many, of the shows of its seventeen-and-a-half-year output during his tenure as MD. Highlights of the Baby Cow output during this time include Oscar-nominated Philomena, I Believe in Miracles, Gavin and Stacey, Moone Boy, The Mighty Boosh, Marion and Geoff, Red Dwarf, Uncle, Nighty Night, Hunderby, Camping and Alan Partridge. Since retiring in April 2016, Henry has written and performed six BBC Radio 4 shows, A Normal Family, A Normal Life, A Normal Love, A Normal Imagination, A Normal Nature and A Normal Universe, combining comedy, poetry and stories about bringing up his autistic son.

Henry Normal (Author), Henry Normal (Narrator)

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A Normal...Family, Life, Love, Imagination & Nature: The BBC Radio 4 stand up shows

Henry Normal uses poetry, storytelling and comedy to tackle big subjects with his trademark humour. This collection includes five of his funny and moving BBC Radio 4 shows: A Normal Family is centred around Henry's son, Johnny, who was diagnosed with autism. Through stand-up and poetry, Henry explores what this means for Johnny, for himself, and for his wife, Angela. A Normal Life continues to draw on Henry's experiences of bringing up a child with autism, and tackles the subjects of life, death, loneliness, loss, human frailty and other classic conversation stoppers. A Normal Love sees Henry explore love, romance and other unreasonable expectations. A Normal Imagination looks at the reasons why humans create. A Normal Nature is an exploration of unsung nature, from the point of view of a busy urban human. These extended episodes include material never broadcast on the radio. 'It's a rare and lovely thing: half an hour of radio that stops you short, gently demands your attention and then wipes your tears away while you have to have a little sit down' - The Guardian A Normal Life was awarded a Silver ARIA for Best Comedy/Entertainment production at the 2017 Radio Academy Awards. Written and performed by Henry Normal. Produced by Carl Cooper. A BBC Studios Production.

Henry Normal (Author), Henry Normal (Narrator)

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