At the Big Brue festival in Somerset, actor Dominic West engaged in a poetry-themed discussion with musician and activist Bob Geldof, expressing his admiration for Lord Byron while Geldof championed the work of Irish poet WB Yeats.

West described Byron, a leading figure of the Romantic period, as his favorite poet largely due to Byron’s notorious reputation as a “top shagger.” The actor highlighted Byron’s larger-than-life persona, referring to him as a “proto-rock star,” and pointed to the poet’s flamboyant private life, which included self-imposed exile amid scandal surrounding rumored incest and allegations of homosexual behavior—both heavily stigmatized and illegal in Byron’s era.

Byron’s celebrated works, including “She Walks in Beauty” and the unfinished “Don Juan,” remain influential, West noted. He recited “She Walks in Beauty,” emphasizing its origins following one of Byron’s late-night parties, while underscoring Byron’s enduring literary stature, which he suggested “towers above Yeats.” Despite acknowledging Yeats as “an incredible poet and a wonderful man,” West suggested Yeats lacked Byron’s reputation for sexual exploits.

On the subject of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on poetry, West expressed confidence that human creativity, especially as seen in contemporary rap music, would remain distinct and irreplaceable. He argued that while AI might encroach on some artistic forms, poetry’s emotional depth and personal expression safeguarded it from being fully automated.

In contrast, Geldof advocated for WB Yeats, whom he described as Ireland’s paramount poet comparable to Shakespeare’s significance in English literature. While conceding that Yeats was not known for a promiscuous lifestyle, Geldof said the poet’s private experiences, including a late-life relationship with Olivia Shakespear, fueled the passion in his work.

Geldof highlighted Yeats’s extensive contributions beyond poetry, noting his instrumental role in establishing the first Irish ballet school and the Irish National Theatre, as well as his efforts to revive the Irish language. He underscored Yeats’s impact on Irish culture and politics, particularly through his lyrical reflections on pivotal events like the 1916 Easter Rising.

The exchange illuminated different facets of literary legacy—Byron’s flamboyance and rebel spirit contrasted with Yeats’s cultural nationalism and artistic institution-building—while both figures remain central to the poetic canon.