The Prize was inaugurated in 1993 in celebration of the Poetry Book Society's 40th birthday and in honour of its founding poet, T. S. Eliot.
Holifield retired at the end of June 2022 after 20 years in the post, and was replaced by Mike Sims.
[4] The shortlist for the Prize is announced in October of each year, and the 10 shortlisted poets take part in the Readings at the Royal Festival Hall in London's Southbank Centre on the evening before the announcement of the Prize.
[6] 2001 saw Canadian poet Anne Carson become the first woman to win the TS Eliot Prize.
2011 saw two shortlisted nominees, including 2002 winner Alice Oswald, withdraw their works as a protest against the sponsor.