Bradley Taylor has been named Birmingham’s new poet laureate, taking on the two-year role as the city’s latest literary ambassador. The 28-year-old poet, known for his Poetry on Demand performances, writes poems spontaneously on a typewriter at festivals, parks and public events, and has previously appeared at the Hay Festival and Verve Poetry Festival. Taylor said the appointment would allow him to celebrate Birmingham, a city he describes as one with a strong literary and artistic heritage.

As poet laureate, Taylor plans to continue his Poetry on Demand performances across the city while supporting local literary projects and working with Birmingham Libraries. He also intends to expand the Zephaniah Forest project, established in tribute to Birmingham poet and writer Benjamin Zephaniah, and represent the city through two nationwide tours. His appointment comes as he continues to build a public poetry practice rooted in live performance and direct engagement with audiences.

Taylor has also written about Birmingham’s cultural identity, including a poem commissioned for Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. His poem “By Order of the People” was performed at the film’s Birmingham premiere in March, celebrating the series’ characters and their connection to the city. As Birmingham’s new poet laureate, Taylor will continue that work of bringing poetry into public spaces while highlighting the city’s literary heritage and supporting its contemporary artists.

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