Book Lenny Henry for your event

Lenny Henry

Lenny Henry, CBE (born Lenny Hinton on August 29, 1958 in Dudley, West Midlands), whose family moved to the UK from Jamaica in the 1950s.

Henry studied at Bluecoat Secondary Modern School, WR Tewson School, and Preston College, and has since obtained a degree in English literature from the Open University.

His earliest TV appearances were on the New Faces TV talent show in the 1970s where he was a repeat winner. His formative years were in working men’s clubs where his unique act - a young black man impersonating white characters such as Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em - gave him an edge in what were racially divisive times. Subsequently he was a comedy performer on The Black and White Minstrel Show.

Later he appeared on the children’s programme Tiswas and subsequently the show Three of a Kind with comedians Tracey Ullman and David Copperfield. Around this time he met his future wife, Dawn French, who encouraged him to move over to the fledgling alternative comedy scene, where he established a career as a stand-up comedy performer and character comedian.

He introduced characters which both mocked and celebrated black British culture, such as Theophilus P. Wildebeeste (a Barry White-a-like), Brixton pirate radio DJ Delbert Wilkins and Trevor MacDoughnut (a spoof on Trevor McDonald). Much of his stand-up material, which was enormously popular on recorded LP, owed much to the writing abilities of Kim Fuller.

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To discuss any bookings, please email Matthew Willetts or call 08448 000 058.