Sir Lenny Henry has been part of the fabric of British entertainment for over forty years. In 1975 the charismatic kid from Dudley won New Faces – the Britain’s Got Talent of its day, and since then he’s risen through the ranks as a stand-up comedy performer and character comedian, actor, TV host, co-founder of Comic Relief, composer and in recent years, an acclaimed Shakespearian leading man. He was knighted in the Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.
And, oh yeah… He’s a writer! We recently caught up with the show business legend and asked him what’s the golden rule of comedy, all about the process of writing his semi-autobiographical drama (Danny and the Human Zoo), thoughts about its sequel and which of his many onscreen characters he’d prefer to go out for a drink with. Plus, what would his ten-year-old self say if he’d been told about what lay ahead…
BBC Writersroom: This might sounds like a weird question, but writing Danny and the Human Zoo… How painful was that? Or was it joyous?
Lenny Henry: I was working with RED tv, Caroline Rollick and Nicola Shindler, so their challenging perspectives made me look at the dramatisation of my life through a magic realist parallel was key to making it something very different. I loved the writing experience and loved working with Caroline and Nicola.
BBC WR: Danny and the Human Zoo was well-received by critics and public alike. [Reviewing the drama for The Observer, Euan Ferguson declared, ‘Written by Lenny Henry himself, this was a beautiful and a valuable programme, which is to make it sound less fun than the huge fun it was.’] Given that level of success, are you writing a sequel?
LH: I don’t know, I’ve not been asked so far. I think I would find writing the story of Danny making a sitcom in London and getting to know various players and collaborators, nemeses and opponents - would make an exciting ride for our hero...
BBC WR: Apart from ‘be funny’ is there a golden rule for writing comedy?
LH: Take it seriously; comedy is a serious business.
BBC WR: Out of all the iconic characters you’ve created, written and brought to life in the course of your career, which one would you most like to go out for a drink with?
LH: I always liked Deakus and Delbert. One is a young dude with his eye on the prize and a turn of phrase and a great record collection; Deakus was always about history and the ability of that generation (he fought in World War II and then came to Britain and settled) to spin a yarn and put things right via his relating of what really happened. I think I’d like a drink with those two. (The idea of a night on the town with Theophilus P.Wildebeeste frightens the hell out of me!)
BBC WR: The public has a huge affection for you and critics – especially in recent years – have been loud with their applause. If you could step back in time and tell that 10-year-old kid from Dudley what would happen… Would he believe you?
LH: No. It wasn’t on the cards for me to have a second wind like this. I am extremely grateful to anyone who’s been to see me in a play or a show; anyone who’s cast me in something… it’s great to know that if you are bumping along in 4th gear for a period of time, that there can be the discovery of a 5th and even a 6th gear at some point. Hoorah for gears!
Big thanks to Lenny for taking the time out for this interview. Want more? You can join Lenny Henry in Conversation at Birmingham Rep or return to 1987 to enjoy his edition of Desert Island Discs. And finally, you can dip into the archives to hear Lenny Henry: Why I Love The Blues and Lenny Henry: I used to pretend to be Bowie…
