Public to help pick new poet laureate
Public to help choose new poet laureate
The UK public are being invited to help select the new poet laureate.
Andrew Motion currently holds the post, but his ten-year term runs out next year and a replacement is needed.
Before an appointment is made, the government will seek the opinions of academics, poetry experts and the general public before names are put to the Queen for approval.
Culture secretary Andrew Burnham said that the search for a new laureate will be exciting.
"The laureateship itself is such a long and fascinating tradition and what's wonderful about it, if you look at past laureates, is that they have all approached the role in distinct ways," he added.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Front Row programme, Mr Motion offered some advice to his successor, saying it is important to preserve their privacy.
He added that letting the public help make the decision was a positive step.
Previous poet laureates include William Wordsworth and Albert Tennyson.
It was previously a permanent post but was shortened to ten years following Ted Hughes' death.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Motion's likely successors include Simon Armitage, James Fenton and Wendy Cope.
SIDEWAYS News for fresh perspectives
