The Hammer & Tongue national slam final – which was postponed last year because of the pandemic -  will take place on Sunday 4 July at London’s Royal Albert Hall, with an additional online feature.

To open the event up for those unable to make the final in person, the selection of the individual National Slam Champion will have an online element. The final competition will be broadcast via Facebook Live, with viewers also being able to vote via the platform. The aggregated social votes will then be combined with more traditional slam poetry voting - where five members of the in-person audience are randomly selected as judges - to decide this year’s UK champion.

Finalists this year include winners of slams from Northern Ireland, Scotland and all over England, and winners of slams at festivals such as Shambala. Steve Larkin, president of Hammer & Tongue, said: “Our poetry slams have been joyous affairs for all those who have packed into physical venues over the years. Now we get to unleash the beast on the worldwide web!” The event will also feature performances from special guest poet Zena Edwards and special guest comic Alan Parker: Urban Warrior.

The final stage of the competition will be broadcast via the Hammer and Tongue National Final Facebook page from 7pm (BST).