Ben Mellor

In the spring of 1993 a young a German philosopher named Haddaway asked the world a question. That question was "What is Love?". On February 13 2012 at Bristol Old Vic, we'll finally be giving you an answer, sort of.

Two crack teams of highly skilled word warriors will be pitting their similes against each other to find out whether love is a beautiful bond that gloriously unites our disparate souls or just a biological imperative conning us into spewing rug-rats and buying over priced greetings cards.

WHO WILL WIN? You decide.

In the lovers' corner:

Ben Mellor, Radio 4 National Poetry Slam Champion

Jodi Ann Bickley, Birmingham's brightest, lovable, lyrical rising star

Jonny Fluffypunk, Cheeky moustachioed dichotomy with a heart of gold and an adamantium tongue

Rachel Rose Reid, Broadsheet favourite and UK Story teller of the year



In the cynics' corner:

Byron Vincent, Splenetic, sparrow legged word monkey, BBC poetry season's new talent of the year choice

Anna Freeman, Funny, tender, Bristol legend in the making

Adam Kammerling Award winning poet, rapper and knitwear advocate

Vanessa Kisuule Multi award winning Slam Champ and sandwich fetishist



As I started this copy with a cheesy anachronistic music reference, it's only right I go out on the same note. I'm nothing if not consistent, seriously, nothing. So remember folks,

LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD! (Yeah?)

Come, I promise it will be nothing like this.

I love you all (or do I?)

Your Word of Mouth host,

Byron xx