The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah

Original version

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 LW

Benjamin Zephaniah

Sara Davies

Celia de Wolff

The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: 5. Pain

5. Pain

BBC Radio 4 - The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah, 5. Pain

Benjamin Zephaniah reads his autobiography. A poet yes, but a parent not to be.

Benjamin Zephaniah reads his autobiography. As the writer flourishes, the man, now a husband, suffers at the cruel hands of infertility.

The celebrated poet Benjamin Zephaniah died in December 2023.  As a tribute, Radio 4 is broadcasting the 2018 Book of the Week recording of his autobiography The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah. 

As the writer flourishes, the man, now a husband, suffers at the cruel hands of infertility. Desperate to have a child and be a father, Zephaniah and his wife embark on IVF but as his career flies his belief in his ability to conceive comes to an end. That pain will never leave him, but he decides to take on the taboo and talk about it in his poems and his writings, opening the doors for other people's pain to be understood.

Written and read by Benjamin Zephaniah
Abridged by Sara Davies
Producer: Celia de Wolff

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah

5. Pain

Contributors

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 Extra

About BBC Radio 4 Extra