Celebrated writer, poet, and TV producer Henry Normal brings his sharp wit and gentle wisdom to Nottingham City Libraries as part of his Nottingham Library Tour. Henry will perform a captivating set, blending humorous observations with poignant reflections on family, mental health, and everyday life. He will be joined by special guest Sophie Diver.
Henry Normal
Henry is a writer, poet, TV & Film producer, founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Literature festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival.
In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to Television.
He co-wrote and script edited the multi-award winning Mrs Merton show and the spin off series Mrs Merton and Malcolm. He also co-created and co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family.
With Steve Coogan he co-wrote the BAFTA winning Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan's Run, Tony Ferrino, Doctor Terrible and all three of Steve's live tours and the film The Parole Officer.
Setting up Baby Cow Productions Ltd in 1990, Henry Executive Produced all and script edited many of the shows of it's 17 and a half year output during his tenure as MD.
Highlights of the Baby Cow output during his time include the Oscar nominated film Philomena, I believe in Miracles, Gavin and Stacey, Moone Boy, Uncle, Marion and Geof, Nighty Night, The Mighty Boosh, Red Dwarf, Hunderby, Camping and Alan Partridge.
Since retiring in April 2016, Henry has written and performed 10 x BBC Radio 4 shows combining comedy, poetry and stories about family. His 11th BBC Radio 4 show 'A Normal Journey' will be recorded this autumn.
Born in St Anne's, Nottingham in 1956, Henry now lives in Fairlight, Nr Hastings with his wife and screenwriter Angela Pell and their son Johnny.
In April 2018, Two Roads publishers released his book of memoirs 'A Normal Family' which was written with his wife Angela Pell, drawing on his family experience. It immediately became a best seller on Amazon and has already been reprinted. The paperback was released on 21st March 2019.
Henry performs poetry at Literature Festivals around the UK and has fourteen poetry books available from Flapjack. His latest collection ‘Collected Poems and other landfill’ will be released Autumn 2026.
He was recently given an honorary doctorate of letters by Nottingham Trent University, another by Nottingham University and has a beer and a bus named after him in Nottingham!
Sophie Diver
Sophie Diver is a writer and poet from Nottingham, UK. She is the singer and lyricist of the egg punk band No Peeling. A BBC New Creative, her radio drama The Cupboard aired on BBC Radio 4 Extra in 2021. In 2023 she supported Brian Bilston’s sold‑out Nottingham Poetry Festival show and in 2025 she was selected as part of the Writing East Midlands mentorship scheme. Her writing has featured on Champyun Cloud’s space pop album Third Atomic Number and The People’s Poetry Podcast, as well as in Dear Damsels and Ink, Sweat and Tears. She has also been commissioned by the music retailer Rough Trade.
