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COVER STORY
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I slept in a car for the
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first couple of days. Someone told me if you want to be a real poet you need to be published
mum put him straight though. “She told me: ‘Oh no it wasn’t that. It was just your father wouldn’t stop!’” Of Brum, Benjamin is still thoroughly in love with the place and the people and ‘can never say he’s home until he’s in Birmingham’, but he’d make some changes too. “I love the city so much. While Peaky Blinders has given it some pride, there are no contemporary programmes set in Birmingham. We need that.” He adds: “In other countries there are a number of cities that could be the capital, but here it’s all London. That needs to change. Also, it would be great if more of the fun bits of Birmingham were outside the city centre.” NOT FOR SALE Just before I caught up with Benjamin, I heard the former casting director of I’m a Celebrity being interviewed on the radio and when asked who his
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dream signing for the show would be, he replied: “Without a doubt Benjamin Zephaniah.” I put this to the man himself who was fairly clear. “I’ve been asked many times and they’ve offered me a lot of money, but I would never do it. I’ve asked them not to call again. If I want to humiliate myself there are better ways.” Understood. Although on reflection I can see why he would be an intriguing signing. He has bags of charisma – of that there is no doubt – and he’s also opinionated – no bad thing, is hugely interesting, famously antiestablishment and can get a bit angry about issues important to him. A ratings winner if ever there was one, but let it go ITV. His dignity is not for sale. I LIFE AND RHYMES OF BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH Catch Benjamin on 15 June at Birmingham Town Hall www.thsh.co.uk
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