Literature has long been fascinated with fostered, adopted and orphaned children, from Moses to Cinderella to Oliver Twist to Harry Potter. So why do many parentless children feel compelled to hide their pasts? Poet and playwright Lemn Sissay tells his own moving story.

Lemn takes us on a heart-rending personal journey of growing up in NW England care system in the 70’s and 80’s. He speaks about how this influenced his own character and behaviour and was also the inspiration behind The Christmas Dinners for care leavers in Manchester in 2012, which today take place throughout England. Follow Lemn on @LemnSissay