Sir Lenny Henry returns to stand-up comedy at Perth arts festival

BBC News

19-05-2025

A lot has changed since Sir Lenny Henry did his last stand-up comedy show in 2009.He's become a grandfather, been knighted, and expanded his writing, acting and music-making careers.But comedy remains his first love, which is why when Perth Festival of the Arts asked him to headline their 2025 event with a one-off show, he said yes."When you're on the set of Broadchurch and it's all about dead bodies you do wish someone would come on and crash into a bakery by mistake," he jokes."You do wish there were more funny lines. I think comedy is a massive healer and is underestimated."It doesn't have its own category at the Oscars and I think that's terrible. Comedy deserves more respect."Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin. So many great comedians in the world who've never been given their flowers and I think we need to start appreciating how wonderful it is."
Born in Worcestershire in 1958, Sir Lenny has been performing since he was 16 years old, first as an impressionist on a TV talent show and then as a stand-up comedian.As the most prominent black British comedian on TV in the 1980s, he was incredibly influential and much of his material both celebrated and parodied his African-Caribbean roots.He says both his parents - Winifred and Winston - continue to inspire his choices."I remember looking at my mum and seeing how hard she worked for us – she had four jobs," he says. "My dad passed away shortly after he quit work. And that made me realise I don't want to quit work. I've got more to give."I love my audience and I want to show them I'm not just Lenny the impressionist, Lenny the writer or Lenny the actor. "Lenny the comic has been keen to return for a while. He frequently does short appearances at corporate gigs and has been working with regular writer Max Davis to come up with what he describes as a "comedy lecture"."The acting has been something I've been very proud of and want to continue," he says. "But I love the idea of having an hour of comedy you can do, in your pocket. And if somewhere in there we could use Perth as a foundation for that, it would be a good thing."The evening will open with a short set from Perth-born comedian Fred MacAulay, followed by Sir Lenny's set. He'll then take questions from the audience about his 50-year career.
It's a career which has taken him from seaside summer seasons to mainstream television and alternative comedy.In 1985, he co-founded the charity organisation Comic Relief with filmmaker Richard Curtis and was one of 150 comics who appeared in the first Red Nose Day television special in 1988 which raised over £15m.He retired as a presenter of the show last year but says he's still heavily involved as co-founder and life president."It was a massive chapter and it's still ongoing," he says."I'll still do project visits and films but not presenting on the night so you won't see me on the TV as much."He says he will still be compering special events, finding new talent and sponsors.He compares it with the decision to step down as chancellor of Birmingham City University after eight years in the role. During that time, he established the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity there. He recently returned to the university to give an inaugural lecture which called for wider support for diversity programmes - and criticised President Trump for attacking them."Diversity and inclusion mean your mum, your gran, your girlfriend, your gay best friend and if someone is saying we're not going to have that any more, the global majority won't have the chance to be at the table," he says."We want everyone at the table and not just straight white men, thanks."
'Life has changed completely'
As a producer, as well as a writer and actor, Sir Lenny says he was heartened to see wider representation at last week's Bafta awards but worries the change is limited to onscreen."Compare the people who make the shows who get up and accept the awards to the people presenting the awards," he says."It's still a predominately cis white male landscape. Hey, I love cis white males. I've worked with them all my life and for 35 years they were the only people I met. Only in the last 10 years it's changed but it's still a very white world."Whoever is making these decisions about our lives, it's a bit one-sided and that could change."While Sir Lenny is excited to try out his comedy routine, a new play scheduled to open in August and two new books in the offing mean he's unlikely to have the time to go back on the road as a comic.And things have changed when it comes to the focus of his comedy."I'm 66 now and life has changed completely," he says. "If you see a black person in the garden centre it's usually me. I'm very interested in how Mr Stay Up Late become Mr Staying In man. Crisps, gin and tonic, the telly, and bed at 10 o'clock.""And why are garden centres selling clothes? When I go to Prada and buy a nice shovel, you'll know things have changed."Whatever he jokes about, Sir Lenny promises the same silly and laid back style he employed in the children's show Tiswas - and admires in friend and fellow comic Billy Connolly."Billy Connolly has worked his conkers off to make it look like he's just thought something up," he says. "And he can walk on stage anywhere and make it feel like he's just having a chat with you which just happens to be the most hilarious chat you've ever had in your life."I've always wanted that sense of chaos and fun and loveliness and I've still got that in me, I think."An Evening With Sir Lenny Henry is at Perth Concert Hall, as part of the Perth Festival of the Arts, on Friday 30 May at 19:30.