Editing Lenny Henry (section)

==Personal life==
Henry met [[Dawn French]] on the [[alternative comedy]] circuit. They married on 20 October 1984 in [[Covent Garden]], London<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dawn French and Lenny Henry - Timeline - Mix-d: Museum |url=https://exhibition.mixedmuseum.org.uk/museum/timeline/marriage-of-dawn-french-and-lenny-henry}}</ref> and have one child, an adopted daughter.<ref name="connection">[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/dawn-french-the-french-connection-9258177.html "Dawn French: The French connection"] ''The Independent'' (UK). Retrieved 13 December 2007.</ref> On 6 April 2010, French and Henry announced they were "amicably" separating after 25 years of marriage.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 April 2010 |title=Lenny Henry and Dawn French split |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8606120.stm |access-date=6 April 2010 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Their divorce was finalised in 2010.<ref name="2nd marriage">{{Cite news |date=22 April 2013 |title=Comedian Dawn French marries for second time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22245439 |access-date=22 April 2013 |work=[[BBC Online]]}}</ref>

Since 2010, Henry has been in a relationship with Casting Director and Theatre Producer Lisa Makin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 October 2023 |title=Why Lenny Henry and Dawn French divorced after 25-year marriage |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/505936/lenny-henry-dawn-french-divorce-following-happy-25-year-marriage/ |access-date=1 November 2023 |website=HELLO! |language=en}}</ref>

Henry obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA Hons]] degree in [[English Literature]] from the [[Open University]] in 2007<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0430/henryl.html?rss Lenny Henry Collects Degree] 28 April 2007</ref><ref name="open">{{Cite web |title=News from The Open University |url=https://www3.open.ac.uk/media/fullstory.aspx?id=10968 |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=[[Open.ac.uk]]}}</ref> and an [[Master of Arts|MA]] in Screenwriting for TV and Film from [[Royal Holloway, University of London]] in 2010. He subsequently studied at the latter institution for a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] (PhD) degree on the role of [[black people]] in the media.<ref name="telegraph">{{Cite web |last=Nikkhah |first=Roya |date=10 April 2011 |title=Lenny Henry pens his first play |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8440124/Lenny-Henry-pens-his-first-play.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8440124/Lenny-Henry-pens-his-first-play.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=6 June 2021 |website=The Telegraph |location=UK}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Coughlan, Sean |date=5 October 2010 |title=Lenny Henry's long road to a PhD |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11467235 |access-date=24 January 2022 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> In July 2018, Henry was awarded a PhD in [[media arts]] for a thesis titled ''Does the Coach Have to be Black? The Sports Film, Screenwriting and Diversity: A Practice-Based Enquiry''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2018 |title=Lenny Henry receives Doctorate from Royal Holloway |url=https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/news/lenny-henry-graduation/ |access-date=25 May 2019 |publisher=Royal Holloway, University of London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Henry |first=Lenworth |date=2018 |title=Does the coach have to be black? : the sports film, screenwriting and diversity: a practice-based enquiry |url=https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.855138 |access-date=30 October 2022 |website=[[E-Theses Online Service]] |publisher=The British Library Board}}</ref> Henry was later awarded an additional honorary doctorate from Royal Holloway in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2024 |title=Sir Lenny Henry CBE awarded Honorary Doctorate for contribution to film, television, social justice and charity |url=https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/news/sir-lenny-henry-cbe-awarded-honorary-doctorate-for-contribution-to-film-television-social-justice-and-charity/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |publisher=[[Royal Holloway]]}}</ref>

Henry has been an open critic of British television's lack of ethnic diversity in its programmes. During a speech at the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] in March 2014, he called the lack of minorities "appalling" and he has continued to raise the issue publicly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khaleeli |first=Homa |date=20 June 2014 |title=Lenny Henry: diversity in the TV industry 'is worth fighting for' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jun/20/lenny-henry-interview-diversity-tv-industry |access-date=28 December 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

In March 2021, Henry wrote an open letter urging everyone to get a [[COVID-19 vaccine|COVID-19 vaccination]]. Henry stated people ought to, "trust the facts" and distrust misinformation.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56565995 Sir Lenny Henry's open letter urges black Britons to take Covid vaccine] ''[[BBC]]'', 30 March 2021.</ref> Henry also wrote, "Because we love you – we want you to be safe and we don't want you to be left out or left behind. While other communities are rushing to get the vaccine and millions have already been vaccinated, some Black people in our community are being more cautious."  The letter encourages black UK adults to take an informed decision over the vaccine and get vaccinated so as to protect themselves and those they care for.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mohdin |first=Aamna |date=30 March 2021 |title=Lenny Henry tells black Britons: get Covid jab to avoid being left behind |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/30/lenny-henry-tells-black-britons-get-covid-jab-to-avoid-being-left-behind |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

Henry is a lifelong supporter of [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion Football Club]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 July 2013 |title=Lenny Henry recalls West Brom's Boing Boing chant |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01d1wv0 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[BBC.co.uk]]}}</ref>