Brian Bilston

Event information

A Filey debut for this acclaimed poet.
Brian Bilston is the pen name of a British poet and author known for his humorous and socially observant work, often shared on social media, which earned him the nickname "The Poet Laureate of Twitter". Born in Birmingham, he studied at the University of Swansea and worked as an academic publisher before his online poetry gained a massive following around 2016. He maintains his anonymity, similar to Banksy, and has published several collections of verse, a debut novel, and a book of football poems.
Real name: He uses the pseudonym Brian Bilston and has kept his real identity a secret, rarely appearing in photos, earning him the nickname "the Banksy of poetry".
Early career: Born in Birmingham and educated at the University of Swansea, he initially worked as an academic publisher and bookseller.
Rise to fame: Around 2014-2016, he began posting short, humorous poems on Twitter. His work went viral, and he gained up to 400,000 followers, leading to his "Poet Laureate of Twitter" moniker.
Writing style: His poetry is known for its wit, wordplay, visual forms, and commentary on everyday life and contemporary issues. He has been compared to poets like Don Marquis, Dorothy Parker, and Ogden Nash.
Published works:
Poetry collections: You Took the Last Bus Home (2016), Alexa, what is there to know about love? (2021), and Days Like These: An Alternative Guide to the Year in 366 Poems (2022).
Novel: Diary of a Somebody (2019), a novel blending poetry and prose, was longlisted for the 2020 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction.
Other works: 50 Ways to Score a Goal (2021), a book of football poems.