Pam Ayres English poet, comedian, songwriter and television and radio presenter Date of Birth: 14.03.1947 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Pam Ayres
Early Life and Career
Pam Ayres, an English poet, comedian, songwriter, and television and radio presenter, was born on March 14, 1947, in Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire. She left school at the age of 15 to join the civil service as a clerical officer and worked at the central artillery depot in Bicester. Soon after, Ayres signed a contract with the Women's Royal Air Force and worked in the design office, dealing with operational maps. Parallel to her work, Pam honed her skills in the English language and literature. She decided to become a performer and started reading her poems at a local folk club in Oxfordshire. This experience led her to BBC Radio in 1974, where her expressive readings gained national attention. Ayres revealed that she was inspired to turn to poetry by Bob Dylan and wrote parodies of Lonnie Donegan's songs at the age of 12. In 1975, Pam Ayres appeared on the talent show 'Opportunity Knocks,' which catapulted her into the spotlight and led to more frequent invitations to TV and radio shows.
Poetry and Career Highlights
Since then, Pam Ayres has published six poetry collections, toured with her stage show, hosted her own television show, and performed in front of the Queen. Her poems, intentionally simple in style, often touch on everyday themes. Her poem 'Oh, I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth' made it into the Top 10 of the BBC's list of '100 Favorite Comic Poems of the British.' To this day, Ayres continues to pursue her passion for poetry, infusing her works with a generous dose of humor. Starting from September 2006, when her new book and audio CD were released, Ayres embarked on numerous stage projects across different locations in the UK and Australia. From 1996, Ayres frequently appeared on BBC Radio, hosting a two-hour music and entertainment show every Sunday on BBC Radio 2 from 1996 to 1999. Later, she launched two seasons of the radio show 'Pam Ayres' Open Road,' where she interviewed people from various parts of Britain and collected interesting stories. Her new radio show 'Ayres On The Air' on BBC Radio 4 was entirely dedicated to poetry and sketches. The last of the three episodes of 'Ayres On The Air' aired in late summer 2009. In 2002, Ayres made several appearances on Channel 4's game show 'Countdown' alongside lexicographer Susie Dent. In mid-2007, the poetess began working on a new sitcom titled 'Potting On' for BBC Radio 4, where she played the lead role alongside actor Geoffrey Whitehead. On January 16, 2009, she made her first appearance on the TV quiz show 'QI.' In September 2011, Ayres announced to the 'Daily Telegraph' that she planned to embark on her 14th tour of Australia. Her memoir, titled 'The Necessary Aptitude: A Memoir,' was published on September 15, 2011. In the book, Pam narrates the story of her life and career, starting from being the youngest of six children in her family. The poetess covers her time in the Women's Royal Air Force and the series of events that helped her win 'Opportunity Knocks.' In September 2013, 'Ebury Press' released Ayres' latest poetry collection, 'You Made me Late Again,' which became a top 10 bestseller in the 'Sunday Times.'
Personal Life
Pam Ayres is married to theatre producer Dudley Russell. The couple has two sons, William and James. They live in the Cotswolds and keep sheep, pigs, chickens, and ducks. Ayres is an avid gardener and beekeeper.