Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry has been a comedian since the age of 16.
He has risen from being a cult star on children’s television to becoming one of Britain’s best known television performers, as well as a writer, philanthropist and award-winning stage actor.
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Lenny has risen from being a cult star on children’s television to becoming one of Britain’s best known television performers, as well as a writer, philanthropist and award-winning stage actor. Lenny’s recent acting screen credits include The Witcher: Blood Origin, Rings of Power, Broadchurch, The Syndicate and the biographic film Danny and The Human Zoo. In theatre, Lenny has starred in The Comedy of Errors at The National, Fences at the Duchess Theatre and The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui at the Donmar Warehouse.
As a co-founder and public face of Comic Relief he has played a central role in the charity raising over £1 billion since 1985. Lenny is a leading advocate for diversity in the arts and has established a centre for Media Diversity at Birmingham City University, written two books on the topic and co-hosted the podcast Black British Lives Matter. He was awarded a Knighthood in 2015 for services to drama and charity and was a Trustee of the National Theatre from 2016 to 2023.
Lenny has written two memoirs’ with Faber alongside a series of children’s books published through Pan Macmillan. In 2023, his "innovative" ITV1 drama series Three Little Birds received critical acclaim as did his five star, one man play August in England which Lenny wrote and performed in at The Bush Theatre.
Lenny is currently setting up his new drama production company Esmerelda with the support of Banijay.
Television
| The Witcher Chief Druid Balor | The Witcher - Chief Druid Balor | Netflix | 2023 |
| Lord of the Rings Sadoc Burrows | Lord of the Rings - Sadoc Burrows | Amazon | 2022 |
| Lord of The Rings Performer | Lord of The Rings - Performer | Amazon | 2020 — 2021 |
| The Long Song Godfrey | The Long Song - Godfrey | Heyday Television for BBC 1 | 2018 |
| BROADCHURCH Series 3 Ed Burnett | BROADCHURCH Series 3 - Ed Burnett | Kudos for ITV | 2016 |
| Danny and the Human Zoo Samson | Danny and the Human Zoo - Samson | BBC One | 2015 |
| Lenny Henry's Got The Blues Himself | Lenny Henry's Got The Blues - Himself | Sky Arts | 2015 |
| The Syndicate (Series 3) Godfrey | The Syndicate (Series 3) - Godfrey | Rollem Pictures for BBC1 | 2015 |
| The One Lenny Henry Performer | The One Lenny Henry - Performer | BBC1 | 2012 |
| The Magicians Host | The Magicians - Host | BBC 1 | 2011 |
| First Love | First Love - | Sky Arts | 2010 |
| Harry and Paul series 3 Cassins Clay | Harry and Paul series 3 - Cassins Clay | BBC1/ Tiger Aspect | 2010 |
| Happy Birthday OU Presenter | Happy Birthday OU - Presenter | BBC4 | 2009 |
| Lennyhenry.tv series Presenter | Lennyhenry.tv series - Presenter | BBC1 | 2008 |
| Big & Small Big & Small (Voice) | Big & Small - Big & Small (Voice) | BBC2 / Ceebies | 2008 — 2015 |
| Lenny's Britain Presenter | Lenny's Britain - Presenter | BBC1 | 2007 |
| Lenny's Perfect Night In Presenter | Lenny's Perfect Night In - Presenter | Channel 4 | 2007 |
| Lennyhenry.tv Presenter | Lennyhenry.tv - Presenter | BBC1 | 2006 |
| Lenny Henry's Comedy Heroes Presenter | Lenny Henry's Comedy Heroes - Presenter | Channel 5 | 2005 |
| The Lenny Henry Show - series 2 Writer / Performer | The Lenny Henry Show - series 2 - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 2005 |
| The Lenny Henry Show Writer / Performer | The Lenny Henry Show - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 2004 |
| This Is My Life Writer / Documentary Presenter | This Is My Life - Writer / Documentary Presenter | BBC1 | 2003 |
| Lenny Henry In Pieces (Series II) Writer / Performer | Lenny Henry In Pieces (Series II) - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 2003 |
| Little Robots Voice of Sporty and title song | Little Robots - Voice of Sporty and title song | BBC1/Ceebies | 2003 |
| Lenny Henry In Pieces (Series I) Writer / Performer | Lenny Henry In Pieces (Series I) - Writer / Performer | BBC1, | 2002 |
| Party At The Palace - The Queen's Concert Presenter | Party At The Palace - The Queen's Concert - Presenter | Live concert on BBC1 | 2002 |
| Goodbye Mr Steadman Roy | Goodbye Mr Steadman - Roy | ITV | 2001 |
| Lenny Henry In Pieces Christmas Special Writer / Performer | Lenny Henry In Pieces Christmas Special - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 2001 |
| Lenny's Atlantic Adventure Documentary | Lenny's Atlantic Adventure - Documentary | BBC1 | 2000 |
| Lenny Henry In Pieces Christmas Special Writer / Performer | Lenny Henry In Pieces Christmas Special - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 2000 |
| The Man Performer | The Man - Performer | Screen One/BBC1 | 1999 |
| Hope & Glory (Series 1 - 3) Performer | Hope & Glory (Series 1 - 3) - Performer | BBC1 | 1999 — 2000 |
| Lenny Goes To Town Writer / Performer | Lenny Goes To Town - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1998 |
| The Bafta Awards Presenter | The Bafta Awards - Presenter | 1997 | |
| Lenny's Big Amazon Adventure Artist | Lenny's Big Amazon Adventure - Artist | BBC1 | 1997 |
| Neverwhere Writer | Neverwhere - Writer | BBC1 | 1996 |
| Famous Fred voice-over | Famous Fred - voice-over | Channel 4 | 1996 |
| Lenny Henry Gets Wild Writer / Performer | Lenny Henry Gets Wild - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1996 |
| The Lenny Henry Show Special Writer / Performer | The Lenny Henry Show Special - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1996 |
| The Lenny Henry Show Writer / Performer | The Lenny Henry Show - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1995 |
| The Lenny Henry Christmas Show Writer / Performer | The Lenny Henry Christmas Show - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1995 |
| White Goods Performer | White Goods - Performer | ITV | 1994 |
| The Lenny Henry Christmas Show Writer / Performer | The Lenny Henry Christmas Show - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1994 |
| South Bank Show - 'Darker Than Me' Documentary Presenter | South Bank Show - 'Darker Than Me' - Documentary Presenter | ITV | 1994 |
| Chef! (Series 1 - 3) Performer | Chef! (Series 1 - 3) - Performer | BBC1 | 1993 — 1996 |
| New Soul Nation Documentary Presenter | New Soul Nation - Documentary Presenter | Channel 4 | 1993 |
| South Bank Show - 'Hunt The Funk' Documentary Presenter | South Bank Show - 'Hunt The Funk' - Documentary Presenter | ITV | 1992 |
| Alive And Kicking Performer | Alive And Kicking - Performer | BBC1 | 1991 |
| Lenny Go Home Writer / Performer | Lenny Go Home - Writer / Performer | ITV | 1991 |
| Bernard And The Genie Performer | Bernard And The Genie - Performer | BBC1 | 1991 |
| Lenny Henry: In Dreams Performer | Lenny Henry: In Dreams - Performer | BBC1 | 1991 |
| Coast To Coast Performer | Coast To Coast - Performer | 1990 | |
| Comic Strip Presents 'Oxford' Performer | Comic Strip Presents 'Oxford' - Performer | BBC2 | 1990 |
| Comic Strip Presents 'South Atlantic Raiders' Performer | Comic Strip Presents 'South Atlantic Raiders' - Performer | BBC2 | 1990 |
| South Bank Show | South Bank Show - | ITV | 1988 |
| The Lenny Henry Special Writer / Performer | The Lenny Henry Special - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1988 |
| The Delbert Wilkins Show Delbert Wilkins | The Delbert Wilkins Show - Delbert Wilkins | BBC1 | 1987 — 1988 |
| Lenny Henry Christmas Special Writer / Performer | Lenny Henry Christmas Special - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1987 |
| Lenny Henry Tonite Performer | Lenny Henry Tonite - Performer | BBC1 | 1986 |
| Comic Relief Presenter | Comic Relief - Presenter | 1985 — 2015 | |
| Comic Relief Co-founder | Comic Relief - Co-founder | 1985 — 2015 | |
| The Lenny Henry Show (Series 1 - 2) Writer / Performer | The Lenny Henry Show (Series 1 - 2) - Writer / Performer | BBC1 | 1984 — 1985 |
| O.T.T. Performer | O.T.T. - Performer | 1981 | |
| Three Of A Kind Performer | Three Of A Kind - Performer | BBC1 | 1981 — 1983 |
| TISWAS Performer | TISWAS - Performer | Central TV | 1978 — 1980 |
| New Faces Performer | New Faces - Performer | 1975 | |
| The Summer Show Performer | The Summer Show - Performer | 1975 | |
| The Fosters Performer | The Fosters - Performer | LWT | 1975 — 1976 |
Film
| Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban Voice of Shrunken Heads | Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban - Voice of Shrunken Heads | Alfonso Cuaron | 2004 |
| True Identity Performer | True Identity - Performer | Charles Lane | 1991 |
| Live And Unleashed Writer / Performer | Live And Unleashed - Writer / Performer | Andy Harries | 1989 |
Theatre and Live Performance
| August in England August | August in England - August | The Bush Theatre | 2023 |
| King Hedley II Actor | King Hedley II - Actor | 2019 | |
| King Hedley Actor | King Hedley - Actor | Theatre Royal Straford East | 2019 |
| Who Am I Again? (Writer/Lead Performer) | Who Am I Again? - (Writer/Lead Performer) | UK Tour | 2019 |
| Who Am I Again? Writer / Performer | Who Am I Again? - Writer / Performer | Phil McIntyre Ent / UK Tour | 2019 |
| The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Arturo Ui | The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui - Arturo Ui | by Bertolt Brecht, in a new adaptation by Bruce Norris, Donmar Warehouse | 2017 |
| Educating Rita Frank Bryant | Educating Rita - Frank Bryant | Chichester Festival Theatre | 2015 |
| Rudy's Rare Records | Rudy's Rare Records - | Hackney Empire | 2014 |
| FENCES Troy Maxson | FENCES - Troy Maxson | Duchess Theatre | 2013 |
| Fences Troy Maxson | Fences - Troy Maxson | Duchess Theatre | 2013 |
| Comedy of Errors | Comedy of Errors - | National Theatre | 2012 |
| CRADLE TO RAVE | CRADLE TO RAVE - | Tour of the UK | 2011 |
| Live at the Apollo | Live at the Apollo - | Hammersmith Apollo | 2010 |
| Othello Othello | Othello - Othello | Trafalgar Studios - London | 2009 |
| Othello Othello | Othello - Othello | Northern Broadsides/WYP Tour | 2009 |
| Where you From? One-man Show | Where you From? - One-man Show | Tour of Australia & New Zealand | 2008 |
| Where you From? One-man Show | Where you From? - One-man Show | Tour of UK | 2007 |
| Montreal Just for Laughs Festival - Britcom Gala Host | Montreal Just for Laughs Festival - Britcom Gala - Host | Montreal Just for Laughs Festival | 2005 |
| So Much Things To Say One Man Show / Co-Writer | So Much Things To Say - One Man Show / Co-Writer | Tour of UK | 2004 |
| So Much Things To Say One Man Show / Co-Writer | So Much Things To Say - One Man Show / Co-Writer | Tour of Australia and New Zealand | 2004 |
| One-man Stand-up One-man Stand-up | One-man Stand-up - One-man Stand-up | Windsor Arts Centre | 2003 |
| So Much Things To Say - Warm-up gigs One Man Show / Co-Writer | So Much Things To Say - Warm-up gigs - One Man Show / Co-Writer | Wyndhams Theatre | 2003 |
| Have You Seen This Man One-man Stand-up | Have You Seen This Man - One-man Stand-up | UK Tour | 2001 |
| Large '99 One-man Stand-up | Large '99 - One-man Stand-up | UK Tour | 1999 |
| Lenny Henry Large! One-man Stand-up | Lenny Henry Large! - One-man Stand-up | Tour of Australia and New Zealand | 1998 |
| Larger Than Life One-man Stand-up | Larger Than Life - One-man Stand-up | UK Tour | 1996 |
| Loud! One-man Stand-up | Loud! - One-man Stand-up | Tour of Australia | 1995 |
| Loud! One-man Stand-up | Loud! - One-man Stand-up | Nationwide UK Tour | 1994 |
Awards
| BAFTA Winner | BAFTA - Winner | Alan Clarke Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television | 2016 |
| Outstanding Newcomer Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Outstanding Newcomer - Evening Standard Theatre Awards | 2009 | |
| Black Entertainment Comedy Awards Winner of Lifetime Achievement Award | Black Entertainment Comedy Awards - Winner of Lifetime Achievement Award | 2003 | |
| British Comedy Awards Winner | British Comedy Awards - Winner | Winner of Lifetime Achievement Award (Perf) | 2003 |
| BFM Awards Winner of the Inspiration Award | BFM Awards - Winner of the Inspiration Award | 2002 | |
| Golden Rose of Montreux | Golden Rose of Montreux - | 2001 | |
| BBC British Personality of the Year | BBC British Personality of the Year - | 1993 | |
| The Golden Nymph Award Monte Carlo Television Festival | The Golden Nymph Award - Monte Carlo Television Festival | 1992 | |
| Alive And Kicking Monaco Red Cross, Monte Carlo Television Festival | Alive And Kicking - Monaco Red Cross, Monte Carlo Television Festival | 1992 |
Books
| You Can Do Anything, Tyrone. Writer | You Can Do Anything, Tyrone. - Writer | Pan Macmillan | 2020 — 2022 |
| Who Am I Again? Writer | Who Am I Again? - Writer | 2019 | |
| Who Am I Again? Writer | Who Am I Again? - Writer | Faber&Faber | 2019 |
| Charlie And The Big Chill | Charlie And The Big Chill - | 1999 |
Radio
| The Government Inspector Khlestekov | The Government Inspector - Khlestekov | BBC Radio 4 | 2017 |
| God of Carnage Various | God of Carnage - Various | BBC Radio 4 | 2015 |
| Raising the Bar Presenter | Raising the Bar - Presenter | BBC Radio 4 | 2015 |
| Othello Performer | Othello - Performer | BBC Radio 4 | 2010 |
| Bad Faith Performer | Bad Faith - Performer | BBC Radio 4 | 2010 |
| I'm Still The Same Paul Performer | I'm Still The Same Paul - Performer | BBC Radio 3 | 2010 |
| What's So Great About? Series 2 Presenter | What's So Great About? Series 2 - Presenter | BBC Radio 4 | 2010 |
| Matilda Narrator | Matilda - Narrator | BBC Radio 4 | 2009 |
| Rudy's Rare Records - Series 2 Performer | Rudy's Rare Records - Series 2 - Performer | BBC Radio 4 | 2009 |
| Bad Faith Performer | Bad Faith - Performer | BBC Radio 4 | 2008 |
| Rudy's Rare Records Performer | Rudy's Rare Records - Performer | BBC Radio 4 | 2008 |
| What's So Great About? Presenter | What's So Great About? - Presenter | BBC Radio 4 | 2008 |
| Pick of the Year Presenter | Pick of the Year - Presenter | BBC Radio 4 | 2007 |
| Anansi Boys Performer | Anansi Boys - Performer | BBC World Service | 2007 |
| Lenny and Will Presenter | Lenny and Will - Presenter | BBC Radio 4 | 2006 |
| Lenny and Will: Act 2 Presenter | Lenny and Will: Act 2 - Presenter | BBC Radio 4 | 2006 |
| Anansi Boys - Unabridged version | Anansi Boys - Unabridged version - | Harper Audio | 2005 |
| Talking Comedy Presenter | Talking Comedy - Presenter | BBC Radio 2 | 2004 |
| The Funk Show Guest Presenter | The Funk Show - Guest Presenter | BBC6 Music | 2004 |
| Have You Seen This Man Live recording of 2001 UK Tour | Have You Seen This Man - Live recording of 2001 UK Tour | EMI | 2002 |
| Peter And The Wolf Narrator | Peter And The Wolf - Narrator | EMI Classics | 2000 |
News
Lenny Henry's new series 'Three Little Birds' out now 22nd October 2023 Three Little Birds is a British historical drama television series written by Sir Lenny Henry and in collaboration with Russell T Davies |
Lenny Henry stars in his Playwriting Debut 'August In England' 30th April 2023 Written and performed by Lenny Henry in his playwriting debut, the celebrated actor and comedian brings his vast talents onto the stage in this intimate one-man show |
Lenny Henry Returns to Theatre in 2019 25th May 2018 It was announced today that Lenny Henry will be taking the part of Elmore in August Wilson's King Hedley II at the Theatre Royal Stratford East |
New series of Broadchurch begins starring Lenny Henry! 27th February 2017 ITV's Broadchurch is back for a third and final series |
Tune in to Jazzie B's 1980s: From Dole to Soul on BBC2 this Saturday, featuring Lenny Henry! 25th November 2016 Saturday night is sorted |
Lenny Henry will star in the Donmar's new season! 17th November 2016 Delighted to announce that Lenny Henry will be starting in the Donmar's new season |
Lenny Henry to star in a BBC Radio 4's new series Rogue's Gallery 16th May 2016 Lenny Henry is to act in a new series of 'darkly comic, genre-bending monologues' for Radio 4 |
15th September 2015 Lenny Henry talks to Van Morrison, Tinie Tempah and Jools Holland on a quest to discover why the UK has never produced a single black blues singer of international fame |
23rd August 2012 Lenny Henry takes us on a hilarious joyride through his life in music |
Lenny Henry - A Work In Progress 22nd May 2012 Lenny Henry is updating and rebooting CRADLE TO RAVE, a show about not only his passion but also his occasional regret for not pursuing a career in his beloved music |
Lenny Henry - Finding Shakespeare 29th March 2012 Lenny Henry explores his changing relationship with the works of Shakespeare |
The Comedy of Errors opens to a sweep of great reviews. 2nd December 2011 Well done and congratulations to a very well deserving Lenny Henry, on the great press he has received for the opening of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors at The National Theatre |
31st March 2011 Sony nominations this year for Best Music Programme for Simon Mayo for his Drivetime show, and Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie for their Radio 2 show |
18th January 2011 Music has always been a huge part of Lenny’s life and it was impersonating Stevie Wonder that first catapulted him into the entertainment industry in 1975 |
FIRST LOVE featuring Lenny Henry and Mark Radcliffe 11th August 2010 Each week, a different celebrity will retrain in the field of their first love, learning and relearning long forgotten skills from childhood |
Lenny Henry wins Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards! 24th November 2009 Lenny Henry wins Outstanding Newcomer Award at the 2009 Evening Standard Theatre Awards for his performance in the title role of Northern Broadsides' production of Othello |
22nd July 2009 The Northern Broadsides and West Yorkshire Playhouse production of Othello, starring Lenny Henry in the title role, will transfer to the Trafalgar Studios from 11th Septmber, following a sell-out regional tour |
18th March 2009 === AWARDS ===Congratulations to The Mighty Boosh who scooped the Best TV Show Award at the NME Awards 2009Congratulations to Richard Ayoade who won 2 awards at the NWE Awards - BEST VIDEO for directing The Last Shadow Puppets single 'My Mistakes Were Made For You' and BEST DVD for The Artctic Monkeys 'At The Apollo'=== TOURS ===Lenny Henry is continuing his performance of Othello which is now on tour |
PBJ Management & JBJ Management News - February 10th February 2009 First of all, congratulations are in order to TIM MINCHIN, DYLAN MORAN and MIKE WOZNIAK who have been nominated in this years' Chortle awards |
PBJ Management News - January 2009 10th January 2009 We are very pleased to announce that PBJ Management has recently taken on SALLY PHILLIPS as a client |