New BBC show to explore ‘vibrant’ Scots language and poetry

The programme on BBC Radio 4, called Beyond Burns, will delve into Scottish poetry across the country, travelling from Dundee to Aberdeen and the Orkney Islands. It will first air on January 7.

The show is hosted by Alistair Heather, who recorded the show in his flat in Dundee. In each episode, the Scots broadcaster talks about the Scottish poets and poems of different parts of the country.

“Scottish people often don’t get a chance to poke around in our own back garden. Many of us seldom visit Aberdeen or have never been to Dundee. So many folks I meet couldnae find Angus on a map,” Heather said.

The first episode will open with Taylor Dyson, a poet raised in Scotland. She will read her own poem, Tae Dundee, live from the Scots Language performance night Blether, held monthly in the Keiller Centre.

She will also read the work of Mary Brooksbank, a poet who lived in Lochee in the 20th century and wrote poems and songs about the life of a lot of the city millworkers. 

“I love that Dundee is represented by two working-class female voices, Taylor Dyson and Mary Brooksbank,” said Heather.

“When I think of Dundee, I think of strong working-class women.

“Hopefully when Radio 4 listeners across the UK hear this programme, it’ll get them thinking of Dundee as a poetic city. And hopefully, it’ll let people know where Angus is on a map.”

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The programme will then travel to Angus where Violet Jacob’s poetry, who lived at the House of Dun near Montrose, is explored and then continue north to Aberdeen and Orkney.

Heather will then be joined in his flat by Kathleen Jamie, a Fife-based poet and recent Makar.

The programme aims to “expand and modernise Scotland’s own self-image as a powerfully poetic, multilingual country that can call Burns its own, and so much more beyond him”. 

Heather said: “I wanted to introduce people to less familiar parts of their own country in a unique way. Poets have terrific insights into the places they live, so I thought travelling around listening to them would be an enjoyable way to learn about Scotland.

“The voices we hear in the programme are fun, interesting and rich in their use of Scots.

“I’m glad we got to showcase the north east of Scotland’s rich traditions and vibrant Scots present to Radio 4 audiences.”