Tony Harrison

Tony Harrison has been described by critics as the 'alternative poet laureate' - though he himself thinks the post should have been abandoned after the death of Ted Hughes.

Harrison is a working class Northerner with a classical education who strives for eloquence. Since his first book of poems, 'The Loiners', was published in 1970 he has shocked, challenged and beguiled audiences with his translations of Greek and French drama, his films and poetry collections.

He talks to Razia Iqbal.