AWARD winning Atherton poet Lemn Sissay has thrown down a challenge to musicians to write a new national anthem and to artists to redesign the national flag.
The 35-years-old poet, broadcaster and presenter will front the first Open University programme to be shown next month on BBC Choice, New Brit, on which he will perform a rap version of a new upbeat anthem for the new century .
The programme will use the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations to explore issues of national identity, cultural diversity, devoltion and the shifting meaning of Britishness.
The former Hesketh Fletcher schoolboy, who was brought up by adoptive parents in the area, asks musicians such as DJ Nick Rafferty, girl group Fourtune, UK garage superstars So Solid Crew an ex-Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten to state their views on what it is to be British and what a new national anthem should sound like.
He also asks artists to design new flags and top advertising agencies to attempt to rebrand Britain.
Lemn will also travel the UK meeting young people whose parents immigrated to Britain in the 60s and examine how first generation Britons perceive themselves,
The programme addresses itself to the experiences, attitudes and opinions of under 35s, a generation that has never known anything other than a multicultural British society.
The editor of the highly acclaimed "The Fire People", a collection of poetry by black British writers, he will speak to politicians from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, asking them to offer their opinions on how the national anthem and flag should represent diverse cultures.
Lemn, who has a reputation for way out wit and home truths, and is known as 'the 200 words a minute man', said: "Britain is almost unique in the world in having an anthem that focuses on the monarchy. Most other anthems focus on land or country.
"The results are modern and upbeat and will show Lemn rapping God Save Us All, Rafferty's hard house version of the national anthem, in a Birmingham nightclub.
The programme will be transmitted on BBC Choice on June 2 at 7pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article