John Hegley is a popular English performance poet, comedian, musician and songwriter. Hegley began his performing career at London's Comedy Store in 1980. He published his first poetry collection in 1984. His television appearances include Wogan and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. In 1998, Hegley's poem Malcolm came second in a BBC survey to find Britain's most popular comic poem. Hegley frequently performs live and is a regular at the Edinburgh Festival. Neal Layton was born in Chichester, West Sussex. Many of his ideas come he says from his childhood. In the past he has worked on a lettuce farm, in a chocolate factory, a teapot factory, a book shop and has delivered papers. Neal has illustrated more than 40 books to date working with award winning authors such as Michael Rosen and Roger McGough. 'Oscar and Arabella' which he both wrote and illustrated won him the Smarties prize in 2002. He now lives in Southsea, Portsmouth with his girlfriend who is also an artist, and their baby daughter.
