The BBC is doing for John Betjeman what it recently did for Bach and Beethoven: dedicating a month of programming to the poet's works.

To mark the centenary of his birth, BBC2 and BBC Radio will present a series of programmes about Betjeman, with films from Griff Rhys Jones, historian Dan Cruickshank and chef Rick Stein.

Betjeman, who died in 1984, is still remembered as one of Britain's best-loved poets - his Collected Poems, first published in 1958, has sold over 2m copies to date.

During August there will be three films about the man on BBC2, a special documentary on BBC Radio 2 and dedicated programming across BBC Radio 4.

In Betjeman and Me, Rhys Jones will offer a fresh perspective on Betjeman's poetry, with contributions from Joanna Lumley, Dame Edna Everage and John Mortimer.

The comedian turned Restoration presenter argues that the poet's work, often perceived as twee and trivial, shows unexpected edge and depth, and still has relevance today.

In the second film, architectural historian Dan Cruickshank - who worked alongside Betjeman at the Architectural Review and who campaigned with him to save the Georgian houses in Spitalfields - journeys to the places and buildings that were important to the poet.

And the third film sees Rick Stein takes an affectionate look at the poet's love of the English seaside holiday and his deep affection for Cornwall, culminating in a feast cooked for guests including Betjeman's daughter Candida, and Jonathan Steddall, one of the poet's great friends and the director of his last television series.

On Radio 2, musician and composer Jim Parker presents The Bard of Suburbia, the tale of how he and John Betjeman produced four best-selling albums of poetry and music.

BBC Radio 4 will host a Betjeman Day on Monday August 28, with special programming throughout, including an afternoon reading of newly discovered correspondence between the poet and those he worked with.

The station will host a special Poetry Please show presented by Roger McGough with contributions from Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes and Samuel West.

And there will be a special Woman's Hour Drama throughout the week, Betjeman's Women, exploring the characters in his poetry; an Archive Hour looking at his long association with the BBC; while a documentary, The Lesser Known Betjeman, will reveal the man behind the poetry.

You and Yours will revisit some of the towns Betjeman wrote about, and there will be a repeat of Summoned by Bells, an hour-long drama based on the poet's famous poem.

· To contact the MediaGuardian newsdesk email editor@mediatheguardian.com or phone 020 7239 9857

· If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".