Escape Plan, The

The Escape Plan contains all of the poems from Henry Normal's acclaimed BBC Radio 4 shows, together with the most popular ones from each of his previous collections. “Distinctly funny.” Time Out “The Alan Bennett of poetry.” Scotsman “Dovetails bittersweet poetry with a sublimely observant wit.” Guardian “Jumps from hilarious to moving in such an intelligent, subtle way.” Radio Times Henry Normal is a writer, poet, TV and film producer, founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Manchester Literature Festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. In 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to television. Henry co-wrote and script edited the multi-award-winning Mrs Merton Show and the spin-off series Mrs Merton and Malcolm. He also co-created and co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family. With Steve Coogan, he co-wrote the BAFTA-winning Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan's Run, Tony Ferrino, Doctor Terrible, all of Steve's live tours, and the film The Parole Officer. Setting up Baby Cow Productions in 1999, he Executive Produced all and script edited many of the shows during his tenure as MD. Highlights during this time include Oscar-nominated Philomena, Gavin and Stacey, I Believe in Miracles, Moone Boy, Uncle, Nighty Night, The Mighty Boosh, Marion and Geoff, Camping, Hunderby, Red Dwarf and Alan Partridge. Since retiring in 2016, Henry has written and performed six BBC Radio 4 shows, A Normal Family, A Normal Life, A Normal Love, A Normal Imagination, A Normal Nature and A Normal Universe, combining comedy, poetry and stories about bringing up his autistic son. Born in St Ann's, Nottingham, Henry now lives in Brighton with the screenwriter Angela Pell and their son, Johnny. He was recently given an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by both Nottingham University and Nottingham Trent University. He has also had a beer and a bus named after him in his home city.