Alex Wheatle, the Bard of Brixton

After a childhood in care in Surrey, Alex Wheatle was moved to a hostel in Brixton aged fourteen. Later he was involved in the riots and given a prison sentence, events which were covered in one of the Small Axe anthology of films by Steve McQueen. But it is Wheatle's writing career that has prompted Ashley John Baptiste to pick him for Great Lives - and his success was rapid and inspiring before his early death in 2025. Joining Ashley in this celebration of the life and career of the Brixton Bard is Lemn Sissay and Vanessa Walters, author of Rude Girls and The Nigerwife. Includes archive of Alex Wheatle MBE at the Hay Festival in 2024 and on Graham Norton's radio show. The producer for BBC Studios in Bristol is Miles Warde

You can listen to Alex Wheatle, the Bard of Brixton online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Alex Wheatle, the Bard of Brixton is an episode from Great Lives by BBC.

This episode is 27:33 long.

This episode was published on Jan 19, 2026.

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