Sir Lenny Henry has opened up on his retirement plans following his decision to pass the Comic Relief baton on after 39 years.
The 65-year old founded the charity alongside comedy writer Richard Curtis in 1985 in the wake of famine in Ethopia, with the organisation’s annual Red Nose Day appeal beginning three years later. By 2015 the charity had raised more than £1 billion, with Sir Lenny fronting each Comic Relief show on the BBC since its inception.
Now, the Dudley-born star has decided its time for someone “to have a go” and will step down next year to coincide with the charity’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Sir Lenny, who married Vicar of Dibley’s Dawn French in 1984 before divorcing after 26 years, will continue as Honorary Life President, however.
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He explained: “I have decided this will be the last time I host Comic Relief on the night. Only because I have been doing it since the 90s – and I think it is time for someone else to take the reins.”
(Image: Rebecca Naen/Comic Relief)
Sir Lenny continued in the Sun: “When we first started Comic Relief back in 1985, I never dreamed we’d still be here today.” He continued: “As life president of Comic Relief, I’m excited to see some new and familiar faces come forward now to present the big night and lead us into the next chapter.”
(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Sir Lenny’s career kickstarted when he was just 16 after he wont a talent competition, New Faces in 1975. This allowed him to create his own comedy series, The Lenny Henry show, which originally broadcast between 1984 and 1988.
He went on to appear in a number of hit TV shows, including The Syndicate (2015), Broadchurch (2017), Doctor Who (2020) and most recently, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, released in 2022.
(Image: Getty Images)
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During that time, Sir Lenny became the most prominent Black British comedian of his time and received his knighthood in 2015. The following year, he was awarded a BAFTA for his outstanding contribution to television.
In 2022, he was honoured at the National Television Awards, receiving the coveted gold Special Recognition Award to celebrate almost half-a-century on screen.
Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day celebrations will air on BBC One on Friday, March 15.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
