photo:  Sheila Burnett
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'an inspiring figure, an encouraging & democratic spirit, a strong & popular poet and one of the funniest people in Britain’ Poetry News

'The man’s a genius! We had a great time and the client was more than satisfied’ David Burnby Associates

'It cleared me chest something wonderful' Theatre By The Lake, Kendal

‘I think everyone there truly, madly and deeply loved the contribution you made to our event today, Ian. I’ve seldom seen over 100 people crying with laughter, and never in the context of a leaders’ conference. And woven into it were some really clear messages about the importance of place, the importance of people, and the need to see the Nobel prize winner in everyone we meet.' Peter Stott, Executive Director, HOME Group

Ian is poet-in-residence for The Academy of Urbanism and Barnsley FC. He’s UK Trade & Investment’s Poet, Yorkshire TV’s Investigative Poet and Humberside Police’s Beat Poet. Ian is Visiting Professor at Bolton University . He’s an honorary doctor of Sheffield Hallam University , North Staffs Polytechnic and most recently University Centre Barnsley  -  Huddersfield University . ‘You can call me Doctor Doctor Doctor…’  

He has been a poet, broadcaster, commentator and programme maker for over 20 years. The last 12 months have seen him exploring language & communication with students, teachers, education policy makers, local authority officers, politicians and business communities.  

The Ian McMillan Orchestra cd project Sharp Stories was featured on The South Bank Show and at BBC Proms Plus. www.theianmcmillanorchestra.com

Pete Doherty: ...he became resident poet of Barnsley football club. [Pete sings] 'It's a charmed life, double as a poet for your favourite team' and every song we would write I would try and get that in.
Sir Paul: ...and always get blown out. Have you got it in anything yet?
Pete: No. Maybe next time.
Observer Music Monthly 14.10.07

For a guide to making yourself understood in Yorkshire , try Ian’s Chelp and Chunter: How To Talk Tyke  

His verse autobiography Talking Myself Home (John Murray Publishing) came out on 4 Sept.  

In 2007, Ian McMillan was appointed Yorkshire Planetarium’s Poet in Space and National Poetry Day Poet-in-Residence.  

Ian hosts hit weekly show The Verb on BBC R3, dedicated to investigating spoken words around the globe.  

‘The John Peel of poetry’ Alec Finlay
‘Jovial Poetic Troll’ Mark Radcliffe  

He’s been a regular on Newsnight Review, The Mark Radcliffe Show, The Today Programme, You & Yours, Any Questions, Quote Unquote, Have I Got News For You? and now Just A Minute. Other radio includes comedy series Street and Lane written with Dave Sheasby  -  ‘just the right amount of playfulness to take the quotidian into the comic’ The Guardian. He’s the 22nd Most Powerful Person in Radio. It says so here in The Radio Times.

  He is Poet in Residence for The Academy of Urbanism, a cutting edge group devoted to defining & driving our urban environments.  

‘I’ve been going to business dinners for forty years and you’re the best speaker I’ve ever heard!’ CBI Yorkshire & Humberside  

‘Easily the funniest and most entertaining awards presentation I have photographed in over 27 years of professional photography…’ Giles Rocholl, Former Picture Editor, Yorkshire Post. www.gilesrocholl.com  

Ian McMillan was recently nominated for the University of Oxford 's Chair of Professor of Poetry.

Ian wrote three plays last year - In The Footsteps of Samuel Butler which Ian toured in  - see www.inthefootsteps.co.uk  - Sister Josephine Kicks The Habit based on songs by Jake Thackray www.sisterjosephine.com  and The Tale of Pretty Deadly for Chol Theatre www.choltheatre.co.uk