The Lenny Henry Birthday Show. Lenny Henry
Lenny Henry

Lenny Henry

  • 65 years old
  • English
  • Actor, writer and stand-up comedian
  1. 7th October: Lenny Henry set to film his acclaimed play August In England
Lenny Henry's Race Through Comedy. Lenny Henry. Copyright: Douglas Road

Lenny Henry CBE is an English comedian, actor and campaigner. Achieving fame in the 1970s, he found continued success through the alternative comedy boom of the 1980s and starred in numerous sitcoms and sketch shows. Toward the end of the decade he was instrumental in founding the Comic Relief charity and campaigns, and in the 2010s took on a number of acclaimed Shakespearean roles on stage.

Year Production Role
2023 Comic Relief
  1. E21 - Comic Relief 2023
 Self
2023 August In England Development Writer
2023 August In England Development August Henderson
2023 Anansi Boys Announced Executive Producer
2023 Anansi Boys Announced Writer
2023 Legends Of Comedy With Lenny Henry Announced Host / Presenter
2023 Kriss Kross Development Writer
2023 Lenny Henry: One Of A Kind (as Sir Lenny Henry) Host / Presenter
2022 The Graham Norton Show - Series 30
  1. E10 - Kate Winslet, Lenny Henry, Nadiya Hussain, Jack Whitehall, Olly Murs
 Guest
2022 Cheltenham Literature Festival Self
2022 Henley Literary Festival Self
2022 Hay Festival Self
2022 Red Nose Day 2022 - Leaked Audition Tapes Self
2021 Beauty & The Beast: A Pantomime For Comic Relief Self
2021 The Big Narstie Show - Series 4
  1. E3 - Episode Three
 Guest
2021 Cheltenham Literature Festival Self
2021 The Graham Norton Show - Series 29
  1. E4 - Billy Connolly, Jodie Whittaker, Tom Daley, Eileen Atkins, Lenny Henry, Coldplay
 Guest
2021 Tommy Cooper At The BBC (as Sir Lenny Henry) Host / Presenter
2020 Billy Connolly: It's Been A Pleasure Self
2020 The Lenny Henry Show
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Writer
2020 The Lenny Henry Show
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Various
2020 Live At The Apollo - The One About...
  1. Special - Transport
 Host / Presenter
2020 Imagine... Lenny Henry Self
2019 Trust Morecambe & Wise...
View episodes
  1. E1 - Culture And Sophistication
  2. E2 - Work And Money
  3. E3 - Travel And Adventure
  4. E4 - Love And Relationships
 Host / Presenter
2019 An Evening With Lenny Henry: Who Am I, Again? Self
2019 Lenny Henry's Race Through Comedy
View episodes
  1. E1 - Sitcom
  2. E2 - Stand-Up
  3. E3 - Sketch
 Executive Producer
2019 Lenny Henry's Race Through Comedy Writer
2019 Lenny Henry's Race Through Comedy
View episodes
  1. E1 - Sitcom
  2. E2 - Stand-Up
  3. E3 - Sketch
 Host / Presenter
2019 The Graham Norton Show - Series 26
  1. E2 - Renée Zellweger, Lenny Henry, Louis Theroux, Andrew Ridgeley, Elbow
  2. Special - Highlights Special
 Guest
2019 Who Am I, Again?
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
 Writer
2019 Who Am I, Again?
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
 Self
2018 It's Alive Development Host / Presenter
2018 The Lenny Henry Birthday Show (as Sir Lenny Henry CBE) Self
2018 The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - The Hexagonal Phase
  1. E4 - Fit The Thirtieth
 The Consultant
2017 Anansi Boys Mr Nancy
2017 Archive On 4: Lenny Henry On Richard Pryor - The Making Of A Satirist Host / Presenter
2017 W1A - Series 3
  1. E3 - Episode Three
 Self
2016 Lenny Henry: Rogue's Gallery - The Rogue's Gallery At Christmas Writer
2016 Lenny Henry: Rogue's Gallery - The Rogue's Gallery At Christmas Various
2016 Lenny Henry: A Life On Screen Self
2016 John Bishop In Conversation With... - Series 1
  1. E7 - Lenny Henry
 Guest
2016 Lenny Henry: Rogue's Gallery - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - I Never Forget a Face
  2. E2 - The Birthing Project
  3. E3 - Man's Red Flower
  4. E4 - Moone Sisters
 Writer
2016 Lenny Henry: Rogue's Gallery - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - I Never Forget a Face
  2. E2 - The Birthing Project
  3. E4 - Moone Sisters
 Various
2016 Let's Do It: A Tribute To Victoria Wood (as Sir Lenny Henry) Self
2016 Boswell's Lives - Series 2
  1. E1 - Boswell's Life of Muhammad Ali
 Muhammad Ali
2016 God Of Carnage Michael
2015 Legends Of Stand-Up And Bernard Righton
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E5 - Episode Five
 Self (Archive Material)
2015 Danny & The Human Zoo Writer
2015 Danny & The Human Zoo Samson Fearon
2015 Looking For Charlie Williams Self
2014 Rik Mayall: Lord Of Misrule Self
2012 Victoria Wood: A BAFTA Tribute Self
2012 The One...
  1. E1 - The One Lenny Henry
 Writer
2012 The One...
View episodes
  1. E1 - The One Lenny Henry
 Host / Presenter
2012 The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists Peg-Leg Hastings (Voice)
2011 Ben Elton: Laughing At The 80s Self
2011 My Favourite Joke
View episodes
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E3 - Episode Three
  3. E4 - Episode Four
  4. E5 - Episode Five
  5. E6 - Episode Six
 Self
2011 Rudy's Rare Records - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - No Richie, No Cry
  2. E2 - It's A Family Affair
  3. E3 - Redemption Song
  4. E4 - Rudy's Rare Record
  5. E5 - Lights Out
  6. E6 - Girls And Boys
 Adam
2011 The Secret Life Of Bob Monkhouse Self
2011 Live At The Apollo - Series 6
  1. E6 - Lenny Henry, Mike Wilmot, Tommy Tiernan
 Host / Presenter
2010 Harry & Paul - Series 3
  1. E1 - Episode One
 Cassius Clay
2009 Rudy's Rare Records - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Ill Communication
  2. E2 - Oh Carolina
  3. E3 - Daddy Cool
  4. E4 - Ride With Me
 Adam
2009 Shooting Stars - Series 6
  1. E5 - Episode Five
 Guest
2009 The Art Of Laughter Self
2009 Shappi Talk - Series 1
  1. E2 - Unconventional Parents
 Self
2009 Live At The Apollo - Series 4
  1. E5 - Lenny Henry, Ed Byrne and Andy Parsons
  2. Special - Best Of Live At The Apollo
 Host / Presenter
2008 Shooting Stars - 2008 Specials
  1. Special - Shooting Stars: The Inside Story
 Self
2008 Harry & Paul - Series 2
  1. E1 - Episode One
 Cassius Clay
2008 The Mighty Boosh - A Journey Through Time And Space
  1. A Journey Through Time And Space
 Self
2008 Rudy's Rare Records Creator
2008 Rudy's Rare Records - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Take Me Home, Country Roads
  2. E2 - Roots Manoeuvres
  3. E3 - Get Up, Stand Up
  4. E4 - The Heart Of Saturday Night
 Adam
2008 Harry Hill's TV Burp - Series 7
  1. E7 - Episode Seven
 Self
2008 Lenny Henry.TV - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Writer
2008 Lenny Henry.TV - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Host / Presenter
2008 Lenny Henry.TV Writer
2008 Lenny Henry.TV Host / Presenter
2007 Little Britain - Comic Relief Does Little Britain Live
  1. Comic Relief Does Little Britain Live
 Self
2006 Chain Reaction - Series 2
  1. E5 - Lenny Henry interviews Bill Bailey
 Host / Presenter
2006 Chain Reaction - Series 2
  1. E4 - Alexei Sayle interviews Lenny Henry
 Guest
2005 The Lenny Henry Show - Series 2 Host / Presenter
2004 Arena: Remember The Secret Policeman's Ball? Self
2004 The Lenny Henry Show - Series 1 Host / Presenter
2003 Lenny Henry In Pieces - Series 2 Writer
2003 Lenny Henry In Pieces - Series 2 Host / Presenter
2003 Comedians' Comedians - Series 2
  1. E5 - Alexei Sayle
 Self
2003 Lenny Henry: This Is My Life Writer
2003 Lenny Henry: This Is My Life Host / Presenter
2002 Lenny Henry In Pieces - Series 1 Writer
2002 Lenny Henry In Pieces - Series 1 Host / Presenter
2001 The Sketch Show Story
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
 Self
2000 The Nearly Complete And Utter History Of Everything
View episodes
  1. E2 - Episode Two
 Writer
2000 The Nearly Complete And Utter History Of Everything
View episodes
  1. E2 - Episode Two
 Ensemble Actor
1998 Lenny Goes To Town Writer
1998 Lenny Goes To Town Host / Presenter
1996 Chef! - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Gareth's True Love
  2. E2 - Reeny/Renée
  3. E3 - Lessons In Talking
  4. E4 - Love In The Air
  5. E5 - Rochelle
  6. E6 - Paris? Jamaica?
 Gareth Blackstock
1996 French And Saunders - Series 5
  1. E6 - Episode Six
 Ensemble Actor
1996 Lenny Henry Gets Wild Writer
1996 Lenny Henry Gets Wild Host / Presenter
1995 The Lenny Henry Christmas Show
  1. Episode One
 Writer
1995 The Lenny Henry Christmas Show Host / Presenter
1995 Now What Executive Producer
1994 The Lenny Henry Christmas Show Host / Presenter
1994 Chef! - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - A River Runs Thru It
  2. E2 - Time Flies
  3. E3 - Do The Right Thing
  4. E4 - A Diploma Of Miseries
  5. E5 - Masterchef
  6. E6 - Private Lives
  7. E7 - England Expects
 Gareth Blackstock
1994 White Goods Charlie Collins
1993 Chef! - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Personnel
  2. E2 - Beyond The Pass
  3. E3 - Subject To Contract
  4. E4 - The Big Cheese
  5. E5 - Fame Is The Spur
  6. E6 - Rice And Peas
  7. Special - A Bird In The Hand
 Gareth Blackstock
1993 Chef! Creator
1992 Lenny Henry: In Dreams Lenny
1991 Lenny Go Home Writer
1991 Lenny Go Home Host / Presenter
1991 Bernard And The Genie Genie
1991 Alive And Kicking Steveie 'Smudger' Smith
1990 The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 4
  1. E4 - Oxford
 Steve Wild
1990 The Comic Strip Presents... - Series 4
  1. E1 - South Atlantic Raiders - Part 1
 Warder
1989 Delbert Wilkins' New Year's Eve Jam Delbert Wilkins
1989 Delbert Wilkins' Legal Pirate New Year Jam Delbert Wilkins
1989 Lenny Live And Unleashed Host / Presenter
1988 The Lenny Henry Special Host / Presenter
1988 The Lenny Henry Show - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Back To My Roots
  2. E2 - Enterprise Zones
  3. E3 - The Single Life
  4. E4 - In-Laws And Out-Laws
  5. E5 - The Crucial Health
  6. E6 - Public Enemy
 Delbert Wilkins
1988 Spitting Image - 1988 Specials
  1. Special - The Ronnie And Nancy Show
 Various (Voice)
1988 French And Saunders - Series 2
  1. E5 - Episode Five
 Richard
1988 Comic Relief Creator
1988 Comic Relief
View episodes
  1. E16 - Comic Relief 2017
  2. E17 - Comic Relief 2019
  3. E19 - Comic Relief 2021
  4. E20 - Comic Relief 2022
 Host / Presenter
1988 Whose Line Is It Anyway?
  1. E1 - Episode One
 Guest
1987 The Lenny Henry Christmas Special Writer
1987 The Lenny Henry Christmas Special Host / Presenter
1987 The Lenny Henry Show - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Sonny Sidles Up
  2. E2 - Leg Of Darkness
  3. E3 - Play Misty Blue For Me
  4. E4 - Money's Too Tight To Mention
  5. E5 - Out On Bails
  6. E6 - A Mega-Star Is Born
 Delbert Wilkins
1987 Coast To Coast Ritchie Lee
1986 Lenny Henry Tonite
  1. E6 - Heavenly Romance
 Fielding Burchill
1986 Lenny Henry Tonite
  1. E6 - Heavenly Romance
 Jupiter
1986 Lenny Henry Tonite
  1. E3 - Gronk Zillman
 Gronk Zillman
1986 Lenny Henry Tonite
  1. E2 - Popsi
 Popsi
1986 Lenny Henry Tonite
  1. E4 - Neighbourhood Watch
 Francis Disley
1986 Lenny Henry Tonite
  1. E1 - Pratt Outta Hell
 Vince
1986 Lenny Henry Tonite
  1. E5 - What A Country!
 Desmond King
1986 Lenny Henry Tonite Various
1985 Happy Families
  1. E2 - Cassie
 Hollywood Hobo
1985 The Lenny Henry Show - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Writer
1985 The Lenny Henry Show - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Various
1984 The Lenny Henry Show - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Writer
1984 The Lenny Henry Show - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Various
1984 The Young Ones - Series 2
  1. E6 - Summer Holiday
 Postman
1983 Three Of A Kind - Series 3
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E5 - Episode Five
 Writer (Additional Material)
1983 The Lenny Henry Sunday Hoot! - Series 2 Host / Presenter
1983 Three Of A Kind - 1983 Special
  1. Special
 Writer (Additional Material)
1983 Three Of A Kind - 1983 Special Host / Presenter
1982 Three Of A Kind - Series 2
  1. E3 - Episode Three
 Writer (Additional Material)
1982 The Lenny Henry Sunday Hoot! - Series 1 Host / Presenter
1982 O.T.T. Various
1981 Three Of A Kind - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Host / Presenter
1981 Three Of A Kind - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Host / Presenter
1981 Three Of A Kind - Series 1
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E3 - Episode Three
 Writer
1981 Three Of A Kind - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
 Host / Presenter
1977 The Fosters - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Nude
  2. E2 - Up In Arms
  3. E3 - Give A Little Whistle
  4. E4 - Take Your Partners
  5. E5 - That Lovely Weekend
  6. E6 - The Family Business
  7. E7 - The Bargain
  8. E8 - The Diet
  9. E9 - Home And Away
  10. E10 - Who Needs Friends?
  11. E11 - That's My Boy
  12. E12 - The Family Way
  13. E13 - The House Guest
 Sonny Foster
1976 The Fosters - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Sex And The Black Community
  2. E2 - My Son The Lover
  3. E3 - God's Business Is Good Business
  4. E4 - The Check Up
  5. E5 - Black Jesus
  6. E6 - The Man I Most Admire
  7. E7 - Situations Vacant
  8. E8 - Sonny Gets A Patron
  9. E9 - Buy Now Pay Later
  10. E10 - The Windfall
  11. E11 - Over The Hill
  12. E12 - The Matchmaker
  13. E13 - Benjamin's Rebellion
  14. Special - New Year With The Fosters
 Sonny Foster

Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here:
Lenny Henry on IMDb

Born
Friday 29th August 1958 (65 years-old)
Title
Sir Lenny Henry
Sir Lenny Henry CBE
Sir Lenworth George Henry CBE
Full name
Lenworth George Henry
Nationality
English
Wife
Dawn French (Saturday 20th October 1984 - 2010)
National Television Awards, The 2022
Special Recognition (Winner)
Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2021
Legend of Comedy (Winner)
Chortle Awards 2020
Book Award (Winner)
South Bank Awards, The 2019
Outstanding Achievement in the Arts (Winner)
BAFTA Television Awards 2016
Special Award (Winner)
RTS Awards 2016
Judges' Award (Winner)
Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2016
Legend of Comedy (Nominee)
Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2015
Harvey Lee Award (Winner)
Leicester Comedy Festival Awards 2014
Legend of Comedy (Nominee)
BAFTA Television Awards 1985
Best Light Entertainment Performance (Nominee)

Further contact details are available to BCG Pro members. See below.

 Correct/update this page
BCG Pro

Share this page

Donate to British Comedy Guide

Join us in our mission to support and promote British comedy across the decades.

Subscribe to our newsletters

Get all the latest news and information in your inbox, with our range of email newsletters to meet all interests.