Legendary poet John Cooper Clarke has stepped in to cover for Iggy Pop’s popular Sunday afternoon slot on BBC Radio 6. ‘Iggy Confidential’ is cherished for its wide-ranging selection of music, often bringing music from every genre, and tracks that cannot be tied down with a single label. Cooper Clarke’s temporary tenure started today, Sunday 23 March, and will see him host two shows.
The 76-year-old has experience on the station, having fulfilled a similar role in 2013 when he stood in for Pulp frontman, Jarvis Cocker, on his own Sunday afternoon show, ‘Jarvis Cocker’s Sunday Service’. Cooper Clarke’s performance was reviewed by The Guardian, with Nosheen Iqbal saying, “Hearing Cooper Clarke pontificate is probably as close as 6 Music gets to replicating the ‘down the pub’ chatty spirit so many shows work to achieve.”
The Bard of Salford was on Laura Laverne’s Radio 6 show on Friday, celebrating World Poetry Day, in which he chose some of his favourite readings throughout the show. On the BBC website, the stand-in slot promises “a Sabbath Special, the compulsory Elvis number, and a nod to Iggy via Clarke’s Compilation Corner”.
@bbc6music Happy World Poetry Day John Cooper Clarke joined Lauren to share some of his favourite poetry recordings. Listen on @bbcsounds and on your Smart Speaker #worldpoetryday #johncooperclarke ♬ original sound – BBC Radio 6 Music
This afternoon’s show opened with a tribute to the late Johnny Green, Cooper Clarke’s tour manager and friend. The poet told audiences that Green’s “invisible fingerprints were all over this afternoon’s playlist.” Green found success as the road manager for the Clash, documenting his time with them in the book, ‘A Riot of Our Own’, and also managed US musician Joe Ely. He died earlier this month, with tributes pouring in from across the punk world.
Cooper Clarke has often mentioned the impact that Iggy Pop has had on him on more than one occasion. He likened himself to the titular passenger in Pop’s song, when revealing his influences, and saying “It’s a poor artist who only paints the picturesque.”
The BBC website for ‘Iggy Confidential’ seems to indicate that Cooper Clarke’s run will last for two shows spread over three weeks, those being 23 March and 6 April. The intervening weekend will feature a wrap-up show for the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival, which takes place next week in Manchester. Cooper Clarke is also set to perform in Manchester next week, headlining an event at the Co-op LIVE arena on Saturday, 29 March, making him the first poet to headline an arena in the UK.
It will be a busy week for the poet, as he is also set to receive an award at the Northern Music Awards, held in Liverpool on Thursday, 27 March. Cooper Clarke will be awarded the Northern Music Award, which celebrates a legacy act who is a “household name with a long and highly-respected career that is still active in music.”
This could go down as the best few weeks radio for a long long time. Listening to Dr Clarke tell some stories whilst plying a bit of music for two hours each day. All for free.
— Streetwise Stu (@StreetwiseStu79) March 23, 2025
Reaction to the news of Cooper Clarke’s shows was extremely positive, with one X user saying: “This could go down as the best few weeks radio for a long long time. Listening to Dr Clarke tell some stories whilst playing a bit of music for two hours each day. All for free.”
With an exclusive mix of punk, reggae, and old school rock ‘n’ roll, Cooper Clarke’s first show goes toe-to-toe with Pop’s own renowned playlists. It’s clear to see that the punk poet has meticulously curated the show, from each song, the order, and the dedications to his late friend.
The show is available on BBC Sounds for 29 days.
