Simon Armitage was announced as the 21st Poet Laureate on 9 May. He succeeds Carol Ann Duffy, who held the position for a fixed term of ten years.
Simon Armitage is a West Yorkshire poet who started his working life as a probation officer and since the publication of his first collection Zoom in 1989 he’s produced 28 collections, five translations, two full-length books and numerous other works. His most famous book is his 2007 translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. His work is characterised by his Northern vernacular and wit, and has wide appeal.