New Professor of Poetry at Oxford University

A Bob Dylan expert has been elected to one of the top literary posts in the country. Bookmakers' favourite Professor Christopher Ricks beat his main rival by 39 votes to become Professor of Poetry at Oxford University.

The Oxford-educated scholar's works range from the merits of poets such as Milton to a study of Bob Dylan lyrics. Prof Ricks, currently working at Boston University, follows literary greats W H Auden and Matthew Arnold in the post. He replaces poet and academic Paul Muldoon, who has completed a five-year term in the job. BBC News