Love the Words

Helped by some old statues, Leonard Cohen and Taking Back Sunday, Christopher R. Moore considers what it really means to let go. A Writing On Air 2026 highlight.

Maurice de Sausmarez was the artist and arts education visionary who presided over a golden fine art era in Leeds in the 1950's. Kerry Harker curated the current exhibition.

Joanna Jowett’s interdisciplinary practice includes performance, print, photography, writing and publishing. Richard Wilcocks is a poet and an expert on film adaptations of Bronte novels.

Pearls of The White Lizard, a story from Isabel Edain. Isabel's favourite weather is mist and her favourite colour is green. She lives in Leeds with 948 books and an ivy plant.

Two prominent West Yorkshire poets read from and talk about their new work: Julia Deakin, with 3 collections and a pamphlet to her name, and Tallulah Howarth whose first pamphlet An Alternative Xanadu is just out.

From Jamaica, of Jamaican and Venezuelan parentage, Shara McCallum is the author of seven books, published in the US & UK. Her latest collection Behold is published by Peepal Tree, April 2026. Here she reads from the book and talks about art and identity.

Typewriter Poet Molly Ovenden and fellow writers Tony Macaluso, Charlotte Carrick and Tallulah Howarth talk about crossing the threshold from solitary creating to public sharing.

Emily Zobel Marshall is a Leeds-based literary activist, poet and Professor of Postcolonial Literature. She researches Caribbean carnival and trickster folklore and has published several academic books and two poetry collections with Peepal Tree Press, Bath of Herbs (2023) and Other Wild (2025). Emily talks about mountains, grieving, and her current projects.

Leeds Arts Centre give us a blast of their innovative new production of Orwell's 1984, and editor Millie Lacey talks about the invaluable resource that is The State of The Arts online platform for arts and info in W. Yorkshire.

Love, betrayal, and the 1966 World Cup, in this atmospheric audio drama from Jacqueline Everett set in communist Hungary. One of the many highlights of Writing On Air 2026.

Children from All Saints Primary School in East End Park, Leeds, give us poetry, ideas and songs on the theme of Underground in this Love The Words Year 4 Special!

Four poets read from the latest Issue of Pennine Platform (winner of 'Best Cultural Promotion Publication' in the Northern Enterprise Awards 2025) read poems and talk about them with editor-in-chief Julia Deakin.

Timely satirical audio drama by Freya Jackson. It's all kicking off in the streets. But has it been minuted? This play was first broadcast as part of Writing On Air 2026.

'In the derelict shell of what was once his family home, a dying man surveys the wreckage of his former life and drinks himself senseless'. But this is also a book that brims with hope and love. Stu Hennigan on his brand new novel.

What’s domestic abuse really like for victim-survivors? And what are the harmful narratives that need to be changed? Voices from Leeds Domestic Violence Service reflect.

What’s domestic abuse really like for victim-survivors? And what are the harmful narratives that need to be changed? Experts in the field discuss.

The People’s History of Leeds captures the story of the city through the voices of its citizens. Volume 1, published last week, includes stories from joyful Goths, Leeds United fans and many more.

Two young poets from West Yorkshire, Jacob Davies and Finny, are both gaining exciting reputations both locally and nationally. Poems and discussion from these passionate new voices.

Episode from a new poetry series on ELCR, Poetry Unseen, in which three poetry-heads present poems they like, and which the others don't know, for an in-the-moment, in-depth response, with Peter Spafford, James Fernie and Jaimes Lewis Moran.

Lateral G is an off-grid, travelling poet who lives on the road and writes about life, ageing and the strange things that happen in her weird world.

Storyteller Vickie Orton makes a happy return to Chapel FM to tell some seasonal stories and talk about her craft, honed after many years.

Love The Words hears from a group of visiting youth workers from Dortmund, Leeds' twin city in Germany. How are young people faring in Dortmund? And where can you get the best pizza in town? And which city has the tallest Christmas tree?

Young writers from Bishop Young Academy in East Leeds, with committed teacher Miss Abbott, share moving & powerful poetry on the theme of Threshold and talk about hope and friendship.

Powerful radio drama by Martin Riley with music by Jack Glover from last year's Writing On Air festival. A child with polio discovers his voice and presence in the world.

The Only High I Need is a new novel by Ria Tocsin out very soon. It's Darcy’s first story. Darcy's a recovering alcoholic and drug addict but, behind the addiction and bravado, she's a just a woman trying to survive. A funny, sad, shocking but cathartic read for anyone, providing useful resources for any readers who find themselves resonating with the story.

Erin and Josh grew up together in Yorkshire and now are on opposite sides of the globe. Can their love survive? Melanie Taylor talks about her new novel, Love Digitally, and tells us why the genre of Romance fiction matters. Plus an interview with Isabella Gellis, composer of The Devil's Den, a new opera with Morris Dancing at the heart of it.

A foretaste of Leeds City of Languages, a vibrant festival celebrating our languages and global connections, plus soundscapes from Czech artist based in Ostracva, Nela Bartova.

Poetry! Alan Smith has taught in universities & prisons. Now he's writing his own poetry. Jaimes Lewis Moran, Seacroft poet, reads from his brand new collection themed around hospitality. What is it about poetry? What can a poem do?

‘Eyes closed, deep inhale: the smell of freshly battered fish takes him back to his dad’s old shop’… Actor Rayyah McCaul on an evocative journey around Leeds with her father.

Michelle Heighway has won awards for her documentary making and photography. But now she's published her debut poetry collection, Step Into My Flow. Why poetry? Why now?

Peter Spafford's audio diary of his visit to Ostrava in Czechia (Sept 2025) where he was invited to read poetry & talk about the perception of Czech writing in the UK. Interviews with Czech writers & organisers plus music from Dalava, a Czech/Canadian band re-interpreting Moravian folksong.

Trevor Wishart is a composer based in York internationally known for his work with digital audio media. He has also written extensively about 'sonic art'. He talks about his work.

Julia Sherwood has, with her husband Peter, translated a number of Slovak & Czech works of fiction. She talks about the rise of modern Slovak literature in translation & the delicate art of translating.

Maz Sultan and three writers contributing to the upcoming collection of writing from Leeds, Manthology talk about this exciting new project and read their work. Poems from Joe Spivey, Huw Parlor and Paul Proctor and Maz Sultan.

The First Ever Yorkshire ThriddingsFest happens soon. A celebration of Yorkshire’s communities and their cultural heritage; poetry, folklore, Punjabi Dhol, Roma music. Learn more.

Adam Farrer talks about his critically acclaimed new book of essays, Broken Biscuits And Other Male Failures, published by Harper North. What do men really want? Or need? Adam's book Cold Fish Soup was the 2023 Readathon choice.

Writer Charlotte Carrick talks to young writers Seren Delahaye and Kiera Gibson about her writing journey, from The Writing Squad through Chapel FM to Emmerdale. If earning a living as a writer is challenging, where do you start, who advises and supports you along the way?

Poets Maia Elsner, Tallulah Howarth and Seren Delahaye discuss poetry and read their work. What does a young poet need? Is 'finding your mind' more important than finding your voice?

Todd Murphy is a writer living in East Leeds. He writes prose and poetry that twist the everyday into work that is tough, tender and often uncanny.

Created with the British Library, a radio documentary of oral history stories about growing up working in cornershops in Leeds, with music from Tower of Song.

Carol Atherton, author of Reading Lessons, Chapel FM's Readathon 2025 book, talks about the power of literature to change lives. Plus Leeds Lit Fest preview with Fiona Gell.

Rob Cowen talks about his critically acclaimed new book, The North Road: Walking London to Edinburgh through Nation, Time & Place', written over 10 years following Common Ground.

Yorkshire historian Catherine Warr has written a musical! She talks about it. And Diliana Stojanova is a Bulgarian poet living in Czechia and visiting Leeds. Diliana has a new poetry collection out in Japanese, Fiinnish and English.

Natalie Anastasia Davies talks about being Writer in Residence for Brimham Rocks, plus her moving poem about the experience. Plus Madeleine Wuidart on her late autism diagnosis, and moving spoken word from older members of the LGBTQ plus community in Creative Voices.

Carolyn, Judy & Carol from the University of the Third Age Writing For Pleasure Group read their work and talk about why writing, & listening to others read, makes them happy. Plus Other Tongue Mother Tongue, a multi-lingual publication from The Other Side of Hope, presented by Mike Baynham.

LTW is 300 episodes old! Peter Spafford and Agnes Leonovicz look back - and ahead, after a short mash of highlights, including poetry from Andrew McMillan, Helen Burke and Leeds East Academy.

Comedy on the theme of Threshold from the fabulous Joyful Drama Group based at Heart in Headingley under the umbrella of Fall Into Place Theatre Company, Seacroft.

With our global theme, Anna Aslanyan talks about her book on the delicate art of translation, Dancing on Ropes; and poet Linda France presents Ep 5 of the powerful In Our Element.

Olivia Mulligan is a poet & children's author. Passionate about sharing uplifting material with others, she performs her poetry on stage, runs poetry workshops for adults and children, & is BBC Radio York's Poet Laureate.

Laura is a musician, poet & artist inspired by the connection between humans & the landscape, neurodiversity and biodiversity. She reads from her new illustrated collection, As The Flow Cries, and plays some tunes on fiddle and gouzouki.