IT WAS definitely Clive And-erson's line when he shared his favourite poems with BBC Radio Four's Francine Stock and a large audience in stifling heat in the Community Hall.

Anderson's appearances as host and guest on TV quiz and talk shows, including Clive Anderson Talks Back and Whose Line Is It Anyway? have earned him a reputation as a master of small-screen badinage, totally at ease in front of the camera. That reputation was consolidated with a display of assurance, wit and charm as he took us through various stages in his life, bringing in favourite poems for illustration.

Unfortunately, his trademark ironic tone, which has delivered so many devastating comebacks, was totally unsuited to reading poetry. Renditions of Shakes-peare, Betjeman, Housman and Belloc were all delivered without variation of speed, rhythm or tone, which suited the comic ones but made the tragic/serious ones sound as though they were meant to be comic.

In view of the fact he was a successful barrister before becoming a presenter, it was perhaps unfair to expect him to be able to read beautifully as well, and his candid and colourful answers to questions from the rather torpid Stock were involving enough. But they really should have got someone else to read the poems. Jon di Paolo