One of the most original challenging poets writing in Britain today…
Full of light and hope
Daily Mail
2024 Hay Medal for Poetry
2023 Legend Award from Variety
2023 Freedom of The City of London.
2023 Honorary Doctor Leicester University
2023 Honorary Fellow Mansfield College Oxford
2022 Manchester Culture Awards: Special recognition award,
2022 Ness Award Royal Geographical Society
2022 Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature #FRSL
2022 Making A Difference Award University of Manchester
2022 Honorary Chair in Creative Writing University of Manchester.
2022 Honorary Bencher Inner Temple
2021 Honorary Fellow Jesus College Cambridge
2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours OBE.
2021 Grierson Award - Nominee
2021 Winner Indie Book Awards (non Fiction)
2021 Essex University Honorary Doctorate
2021 Broadcast Awards - nominee
2020 RTS Award - nominee
2019 Grierson Award - nominee
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE TIMES, GUARDIAN, DAILY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY TIMES, OBSERVER, NEW STATESMAN, METRO, DAILY MAIL, SUNDAY EXPRESS and HERALD
2004, Race in the Media Award (RIMA)
2010, New Years Honours MBE (services to literature)
2013, Honorary Doctor of Letters University of Huddersfield
2014, Fellow of Foundling Museum
2015, Citation from Congress
2015, Chancellor at University of Manchester
2015, Honorary Doctor of Letters University of Manchester
2015 Palm D’or Nominee, Best Radio Entertainment
2016, Doubleday Award
2016, NESTA New Radical Award
2016, Bikila Award Toronto
2017, Points of Light Award from Prime Minister
2017, Seed Award Toronto
2017, The Times Alternative Rich List
2018, University of Kent Honorary Doctor
2019, BAFTA - nominee
2019, University of Brunel Honorary Doctor
2019, PEN Pinter Prize