Two tipped for poet laureate

A TOP writing course has seen a surge of interest amid speculation that one of its tutors could become the next Poet Laureate who writes verses for royal occasions. Poets Simon Armitage and Carol Anne Duffy are tutors at the creative writing school at Manchester Metropolitan University. They have both been tipped as frontrunners for the top accolade. If successful Ms Duffy would be the first woman to hold the royal post in its 340-year history. This year, a record 500 people have applied for only 20 undergraduate posts at the university's writing school, up by more than 100 applications from last year. Course leaders say there has also been massive interest in their creative writing masters course, with more than 100 people applying for just 35 places. Andrew Biswell, director of the writing school, said it had received... [read full story]