John Hegley

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Photograph: John Hegley

Books

Agent: Robert Kirby
Associate Agent: Kate Walsh
Agent: Emily Talbot
Associate Agent: Molly Jamieson

Books

Mr Hegley was born in Newington Green, North London, and was educated in Luton, Bristol and Bradford University.

His first public performance monies came from busking his songs, initially outside a shoeshop in Hull, in the late Seventies. He performed on the streets of London in the early Eighties, fronting the Popticians, with whom he also recorded two sessions for John Peel, and has since been a frequent performer of his words, sung and spoken, on both local and national radio.

He has produced ten books of verse and prose pieces, two CDs and one mug, but his largest source of income is from stages on his native island. An Edinburgh Festival regular, he is noted for his exploration of such diverse topics as dog hair, potatoes, handkerchieves and the misery of human existence.

He is an occasional DJ, dancer and workshop leader, using drawing, poetry and gesture. He has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts from what is now the University of Bedfordshire, and once performed in a women's prison in Columbia.

Latest Publications:

​PEACE, LOVE & POTATOES (28 September 2017, Serpent's Tail)​

This volume by the inimitable poet, comedian and performer John Hegley brings together poetry, prose and drawings on the themes closest to his heart. Contemplating subjects from painting, France and family to Daleks and of course potatoes, these pieces are by turns funny, moving, thought-provoking - and always brilliantly original.

Peace, Love and Potatoes opens a new window onto John Hegley's unique and vivid way of seeing the world, and is certain to delight fans old and new.

I AM A POETATOE (2 April 2015, Lincoln Children's Book)

This is a very funny, witty, zany collection for children, which will also appeal to the author’ s adult fans. It has all the John Hegley comic hallmarks, including references to wearing glasses, Luton, and dogs (being superior to cats)!
The poems are arranged alphabetically by title, with family pets and other animals featuring strongly, from a mos-quito and ants, through wise camels, goldfish and guillemots to Toby the armadillo from Peru and not forgetting the unusual unicorn in school.
The book is packed with John’ s unique brand of deadpan humour, and is illustrated in scrap-book style with the author’ s own quirky line drawings. This is a poetry book like no other!

NEW & SELECTED POTATOES (26 September 2013, Bloodaxe Books Ltd)

A greatest hits, best of golden oldies compilation (with some new stuff) from 'Comedy's poet laureate' (Independent). Poet, comic, singer, songwriter and glasses-wearer, John Hegley has captivated and devastated audiences all over the country, in theatres and festivals, at gigs at the Edinburgh Festival, and with numerous appearances on radio and television. This new compilation shows the breadth of his appeal, with seriously funny, cleverly comic poems on everything from love, family, France, art and the sea to dogs, dads, gods, taxidermy, carrots, spectacles and - of course - potatoes.