Harry Baker (poet)

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Harry Baker is a British spoken word artist, author, poet and Christian.

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Harry Baker
Born
London, England, U.K.
Occupationpoet
Education Bristol University
Notable worksWonderful (2025)

Early life

Born in Ealing in 1992, Harry Baker grew up as part of a Christian community in West London. [1] After switching from studying Medicine to allow his pursuit of poetry, [2] Baker studied mathematics with German at Bristol University. [3] [4]

Baker is a practicing Christian, and has stated 'Because I try and write from a place of honesty, my faith comes through in the poetry.' Baker has further stated that his Christian faith is part of every aspect of his life. [5] Baker has stated that he views all creativity as being "a worshipful act" [6]

Baker recently performed at the Big Church Festival, the UK's biggest Christian festival. [7] Baker is a regular speaker at Christian events, including a recent event titled 'The Gospel, Recemption and Shame.' [8]

Career

2012 to present

Baker has won the London and UK Slam Poetry Championships. [9] In 2012, he won the World Slam Poetry Competition, becoming the youngest ever winner.

In 2014 Baker began performing as a speaker for TED. [4] His talk ‘A love poem for lonely prime numbers’ has over 2 million views. [10] [11] A collection of his own poetry, The Sunshine Kid, was published in 2015 by Burning Eye Books. [1] Baker received major national airplay on the BBC in 2015 when he wrote and performed a poem for Simon Mayo's Radio 2 show. [12] On Boxing Day 2016, he performed a Christmas Meditation on BBC Radio 4. [13] He occasionally performs as a battle rapper, [2] featuring on Don't Flop. [14] Together with the jazz guitarist Chris Read, he is half of "Harry and Chris", who have performed on The Russell Howard Hour television programme. [15] [16] [17]

Baker is well known as an aficionado of wine gums, and has many poems on the topic.

Personal Life

Baker is a practicing Christian, and is a father. [18]

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 "Quantifying the unquantifiable". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Erin (21 June 2016). "Curiosity Conversations: A Chat with Harry Baker, The Sunshine Kid". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Harry Baker: "I'm Not Hardcore Nerdy"". The Tab Bristol. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Poetic mathematician blends writing with arithmetic". ABC News. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "The Baptist Union of Great Britain : 'Trying to spread some joy'". Baptists Together.
  6. ↑ "Episode 263: An interview with Harry Baker". Mid Faith Crisis podcast. 18 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "TBN UK :: Warehouse Worship". TBN UK. Big Church Festival Highlights Warehouse Worship.
  8. ↑ "Damage of 'toxic' shame on society and communities of faith discussed at conferenc". Church Times. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "The love affair between science and poetry". www.newstatesman.com. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Baker, Harry (4 March 2015), A love poem for lonely prime numbers , retrieved 9 January 2017
  11. ↑ TEDx Talks (29 April 2014), Grand Slam Poetry Champion | Harry Baker | TEDxExeter , retrieved 9 January 2017
  12. ↑ "Harry Baker's end of show poem, Live from the Edinburgh Festival, Simon Mayo Drivetime - BBC Radio 2". BBC. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  13. ↑ "Christmas Meditation - BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  14. ↑ "Don't Flop Entertainment". YouTube. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  15. ↑ Russell Howard (29 September 2017), Harry and Chris - End of the World song , retrieved 8 February 2018
  16. ↑ Russell Howard (3 November 2017), Harry and Chris - The Fear song , retrieved 8 February 2018
  17. ↑ Russell Howard (22 December 2017), Harry and Chris - The Christmas Song , retrieved 8 February 2018
  18. ↑ "Canongate acquires World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker's collection about fatherhood". The Bookseller. Retrieved 27 September 2025.


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