AFTER 30 years of making critically-acclaimed TV and film, Bafta-award-winning programmes writer and producer Henry Normal has returned to his first love of poetry.

He’s taking his rhymes on the road with a live tour due to come to King’s Hall in Ilkley on February 11 next year, rescheduled from May 12 this year.

He promises an evening of pure escape with stories, jokes and poems including the favourite points from his BBC Radio 4 series and his seven poetry collections.

Henry, who has lived in Brighton with his family for more than 20 years, has embarked upon a poetry renaissance inspired by his experiences bringing up his autistic son Johnny.

The result is a funny and moving collection of work, both on the page and the stage, about life and family.

The new live show it is entitled The Escape Plan and draws on more than 40 years of work.

Henry’s latest poetry book of the same name is his eighth published collection and was released earlier this year. A selective works in hardback, this latest volume features over 250 of his favourite and most popular poems.

Henry’s original Baby Cow office was established in Brighton and it has continued to be his creative base ever since. Having brought his family up in the city, Henry has written many poems about Brighton, as well as writing his bestselling book A Normal Family which is all set there.

He continues to be a big part of the community in the city, and among other things is a patron and Trustee of Phoenix Art Space, the biggest independent art gallery and studio facility in Brighton.

A Normal Universe is Henry’s latest BBC Radio 4 show, the sixth instalment in an acclaimed series in which Henry uses poetry, storytelling and comedy to explore life’s big questions.

The series started with A Normal Family in 2016 which centred around Johnny, and what his autism diagnosis meant for the family.

The show was hugely well-received, not only leading to further episodes but also to the commission of Henry’s best-selling book A Normal Family: Everyday Adventures With Our Autistic Son which he co-wrote with his wife Angela Pell.

The book received as much praise from critics as from families touched by autism.

Henry’s TV output includes some of the nation’s best loved programmes.

Now, Henry is returning to his poetic roots and taking his new 90 minute show to theatres around the UK on his first major tour – a chance to see “the Alan Bennett of poetry”.

Henry Normal is also the founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Literature Festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival. In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to Television.

He co-created and co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family. He also co-wrote the Mrs Merton Show , Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan’s Run, Tony Ferrino, Doctor Terrible and the film The Parole Officer.

Visit bradford-theatres.co.uk or call 01274 432000 to book tickets.