Manchester poets Michael Wilson and Ben Mellor (pictured) are through to the semi-finals of the BBC national poetry slam championships after winning the North West heat in fine style with magnificent poetry and outstanding performances that wowed the capacity audience.
And it was very close, with Chris Jam and Peter Crompton pressing them hard in the second round for those two semi-final places. Much more importantly for the 160-strong audience at Manchester’s Green Room, it was a wonderful evening of extraordinarily good poetry, provided by the 14 competitors and the showcase poets, Shaun Kavanagh, Lynda Morgan, Louise Fazakerly and Dermot Glennon; with singer-songwriter Kevin Bates adding a musical set. Compere, Paul Blackburn, facilitated with aplomb.
Michael and Ben will join other heat winners in the semi-finals, who include, so far:
Scotland: Harry Giles (Hex) and Sophia Walker
North East: Scott Tyrell and James Oates
Ireland: Abby Oliveira and Mark Madden
South East: Pete the Temp and Danny Chivers
Midlands: Brenda Read-Brown and Ash Dickinson
Write Out Loud organised the slam as part of Manchester’s Not Part Of festival.
All the competitors were previous slam winners, and it showed, as the standard was incredibly high from all performers: Liam Braid empathising with King Kong, Rob Stevens wondering where the winkle man had gone, Tim Ellis with a round-the-world-in-2-minutes-15-seconds poem, Chris Jam jamming around Manchester, Keisha recounting a tale of (fortunately) unrequited love, Nat Clare dipping into his sex bag, Mia Darlone extolling the virtues of cheese in all its forms, Anthony Hett on dates and wandering palms, Helen Burke chatting us up with her chat-up poem, David Bateman remembering the kiss, Tom George on flyers and Peter Crompton railing against domestic violence.
But it was Ben Mellor’s rapping sets, and Michael Wilson’s lyrical poetry and haunting performance, that carried the day and the judging panel.
Write Out Loud want to thank everyone who made it such a superb success and a brilliantly enjoyable evening: the Green Room staff, judges Libby Tempest, Sarah McClennan, Kat Davies, muli Amaye and James Hartnell; Janet on the stop watch, and David Andrew, paparazzo; Kevin Bates, and all the readers.

Photograph: David Andrew