The poet, comedian and broadcaster hosts the weekly hit radio show The Verb, but is also well known for being Yorkshire Planetarium's Poet in Space, poet-in-residence for Barnsley FC, Humberside Police's beat poet and Yorkshire TV's investigative poet.

He is also a regular on Newsnight Review, the Mark Radcliffe Show, the Today programme, The Culture Show, Have I Got News for You, and more recently Just a Minute. His successful and unusual career came under the spotlight in a recent edition of ITV's The South Bank Show.

For his Processed Pea debut, Ian is coming armed with guitarist Luke Carver Goss to add a musical dimension to his work. Goss has arranged music for choirs, song-writers, bands and theatres, and is part of the band Szapora.

McMillan himself dabbled in music while a teenager in his native Barnsley – he was a drummer with folk-rock band Oscar the Frog before forming Jaws, a folk poetry duo.

McMillan's autobiography Talking Myself Home has just been released to great reviews.

Processed Pea organiser Martin Peirson said: “Ian is just brilliant with any audience – perfect for us. We are very lucky to be able to tie him down to a date as he's such a busy bloke.

“The audience can expect to be highly entertained, he may be thought provoking and witty, but he's also very funny too."

Tickets (£10) are available in advance from Beverley Tourist Informatiion Centre, and Costcutter in Cherry Burton.

For telephone reservations or more information, ring 01430 810660 or email martin@peirson.karoo.co.uk.