Simon Armitage criticizes BBC's shed show cancellation at Cheltenham Festival
- Simon Armitage criticized the BBC for canceling his Radio 4 program, which featured discussions on poetry with celebrities.
- The show was recorded in his garden shed in West Yorkshire, creating an informal atmosphere that encouraged open conversations.
- Armitage expressed disappointment at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, highlighting the show's popularity and the lack of success in his protests against the cancellation.
In the UK, Simon Armitage, the poet laureate, expressed his disappointment over the BBC's decision to cancel his popular Radio 4 program, which featured discussions on poetry with royalty and celebrities in a relaxed setting. The show, titled 'The Poet Laureate Has Gone to his Shed,' was recorded in Armitage's garden shed located in the West Pennine hills of West Yorkshire. He highlighted that the informal atmosphere contributed to engaging conversations, as guests had nowhere to escape and were encouraged to open up. Armitage, who is currently halfway through his ten-year term as poet laureate, described the cancellation as 'bewildering' and stated that he had voiced his concerns to the BBC without success. The program's unique format and setting had garnered a loyal audience, making its cancellation particularly surprising to both Armitage and his fans.