Editing Lenny Henry (section)

==Career==

===Early career===
Henry's formative years in comedy were spent in [[working men's club]]s, where he impersonated mainly white characters, such as the ''[[Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em]]'' character Frank Spencer. His earliest television appearance was on the ''[[New Faces]]'' talent show in 1975, aged 16, which he won with impersonations of Frank Spencer, [[Stevie Wonder]] and others.<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 October 2019|title=Lenny Henry: 'I wish somebody had taught me how to defend myself' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/oct/21/lenny-henry-wish-somebody-taught-me-to-defend-myself|access-date=8 December 2020|website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref>

His first manager was [[Robert Luff]], who signed him in 1975 and gave him the opportunity, between the ages of 16 and 21, to perform as a comedian as part of the Luff-produced touring stage version of ''[[The Black and White Minstrel Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 February 2009|title=Robert Luff (obituary) |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4788794/Robert-Luff.html|url-access=subscription|url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4788794/Robert-Luff.html|archive-date=12 January 2022|access-date=1 March 2009|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London, England}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In July 2009, Lenny Henry stated he was contractually obliged to perform and regretted his part in the show,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8156190.stm Five Minutes With:Lenny Henry]. BBC News, 18 July 2009.</ref> telling ''[[The Times]]'' in 2015 that his appearance on the show led to a profound "wormhole of depression", and he regretted his family not intervening.<ref name="MidgleyJun16">{{Cite news|last=Midgley|first=Carol |date=6 June 2015|title=Lenny Henry on racism and regret|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/lenny-henry-on-racism-and-regret-673j707tckk|url-access=subscription|access-date=24 September 2018|work=[[The Times]]}}</ref>

In 1976, Henry appeared with [[Norman Beaton]] in [[London Weekend Television|LWT]]'s sitcom ''[[The Fosters (British TV series)|The Fosters]]'', Britain's first comedy series featuring a predominantly black cast. Henry also made guest appearances on television programmes including ''[[Celebrity Squares]]'', ''[[Seaside Special]]'' and ''The [[Ronnie Corbett]] Show''.<ref name=blackpool/>

===1980s===
[[File:Lenny Henry 1980s.jpg|thumb|right|Henry in the 1980s]]
In 1980, Henry performed in Summer Season in [[Blackpool]] with [[Cannon and Ball]].<ref name="blackpool">{{Cite web |title=Comedy Kings – an unofficial Cannon and Ball website |url=http://www.comedykings.co.uk/index.php/summer-season/1980-blackpool |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310031220/http://www.comedykings.co.uk/index.php/summer-season/1980-blackpool |archive-date=10 March 2011 |access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref><ref name="lenny">{{Cite web |last=Henry, Lenny |title=About Me: The Story So Far |url=http://www.lennyhenry.com/about/story.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713200520/http://www.lennyhenry.com/about/story.aspx |archive-date=13 July 2011 |access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref> He has since said that "the summer season was the first time [he] felt that [his] act had received a proper response from an audience".<ref name="lenny" /> Around the same time, he co-hosted the children's programme ''[[Tiswas]]'' from 1978 until 1981 playing such characters as [[Rastafarian]] Algernon Razzmatazz, [[David Bellamy]] and Trevor McDoughnut (a parody of [[Trevor McDonald]]), and subsequently performed in and wrote for the show ''[[Three of a Kind (1981 TV series)|Three of a Kind]]''.

Also in 1980, he teamed up with alternative-comedy collective [[The Comic Strip]]. While involved with the group, he met his wife, comedian [[Dawn French]].<ref name="bbc">{{Cite web |title=BBC Comedy Profiles: Lenny Henry |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/profiles/lenny_henry.shtml |access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref> She encouraged him to move over to the fledgling [[alternative comedy]] scene, where he established a career as a stand-up comedy performer and character comedian.

He introduced characters who both mocked and celebrated [[Black British people|African Caribbean British]] culture, such as Brixton pirate radio disc jockey DJ Delbert Wilkins. His stand-up material, which sold well on [[vinyl record|LP]], owed much to the writing abilities of [[Kim Fuller]]. During this time, he also spent three years as a DJ on [[BBC Radio 1]], playing [[Soul music|soul]] and [[Electro (music)|electro]] tracks and introducing some of the characters that he would later popularise on television. He made a guest appearance in the final episode of ''[[The Young Ones (TV series)|The Young Ones]]'' as The Postman, in 1984.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summer Holiday (1984) |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b78e6cf5f |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613054049/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b78e6cf5f |archive-date=13 June 2018 |access-date=27 May 2020 |website=[[British Film Institute]]}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=oGeMmAo |title=The Young Ones – Summer Holiday – Part 3 |date=11 April 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0OD6RCb1II#t=5m10s |access-date=23 July 2016 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/K0OD6RCb1II |archive-date=2 November 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The first series of ''[[The Lenny Henry Show]]'' appeared on the BBC in 1984. The show featured stand up, spoofs like his send-up of [[Michael Jackson's Thriller (music video)|Michael Jackson's Thriller video]], and many of the characters he had developed during Summer Season, including Theophilus P. Wildebeeste (based on [[Teddy Pendergrass]]) and Delbert Wilkins. A principal scriptwriter for his television and stage shows during the 1990s was [[Jon Canter]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jon Canter |url=http://www.pbjmgt.co.uk/clients/jon-canter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315231002/http://www.pbjmgt.co.uk/clients/jon-canter/ |archive-date=15 March 2007 |website=Pbjmgt.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Guide to Comedy: Jon Canter |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/c/canter_jon.shtml |website=[[BBC.co.uk]]}}</ref> ''The Lenny Henry Show'' ran periodically for a further 19 years in various incarnations. Across the incarnations, he performed impressions of several iconic American celebrities such as [[Beyoncé]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Tina Turner]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Michael Jackson]] (the two men shared a date of birth), [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Run-DMC]], [[Cee Lo Green]], [[Denzel Washington]], [[Idris Elba]] and [[Wesley Snipes]].

It was in 1985 that Henry co-founded the British [[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]] charity organisation,<ref name="Lenny Henry {{!}} Comic Relief" /> and 1988 when the first-ever Red Nose Day was celebrated. Over 150 celebrities and comedians, including Henry, took part in an evening-long BBC broadcast, which was watched by 30&nbsp;million viewers and raised over £15&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our history {{!}} Comic Relief |url=https://www.comicrelief.com/about-comic-relief/history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813191407/https://www.comicrelief.com/about-comic-relief/history |archive-date=13 August 2017 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=ComicRelief.com |language=en}}</ref>

Prior to the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]], Henry lent his support to [[Red Wedge]] by participating in a comedy tour organised by the campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where will the next generation get its political anthems from? |url=http://www.labourlist.org/my-generation-red-wedge-paul-richards-weller-bragg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081859/http://www.labourlist.org/my-generation-red-wedge-paul-richards-weller-bragg |archive-date=16 July 2011 |access-date=28 December 2015 |publisher=[[LabourList]]}}</ref>

In 1987, he appeared in a TV film, ''[[Coast to Coast (1987 film)|Coast to Coast]]''. It was a comedy thriller with [[John Shea]] about two DJs with a shared passion for [[Motown]] music being chased across Britain. The film has a strong following, but contractual problems<ref>{{Cite web |title=''Coast To Coast'' details |url=http://www.guerilla-films.com/coast_to_coast.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127045742/http://www.guerilla-films.com/coast_to_coast.htm |archive-date=27 January 2013 |access-date=11 March 2013 |publisher=guerilla films}}</ref> have prevented it from being distributed on video or DVD.

===1990s===
In the early 1990s, Henry starred in the [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] film ''[[True Identity]]'', in which his character pretended to be a white person (using make-up, [[Facial prosthetic|prostheses]], and a wig) to avoid [[organised crime|the mob]]. The film was not commercially successful. In 1991, he starred in a BBC drama alongside [[Robbie Coltrane]] called ''[[Alive and Kicking (TV drama)|Alive and Kicking]]'', in which he played a heroin addict, which was based on a true story.

Also in 1991, he starred in the Christmas comedy ''[[Bernard and the Genie]]'' alongside [[Alan Cumming]] and [[Rowan Atkinson]]. Moreover, Henry is known as the [[choleric]] [[chef]] Gareth Blackstock from the 1990s television comedy series ''[[Chef!]]'', and from his 1999 straight-acting lead role in the [[BBC]] drama ''[[Hope and Glory (TV series)|Hope and Glory]]''. He was co-creator with [[Neil Gaiman]] and producer of the 1996 BBC drama serial ''[[Neverwhere]]''.<ref name="cornish">{{Cite web |date=9 October 2013 |title=Neil Gaiman's Urban Fantasy "Neverwhere", Adapted by Robert Kauzlaric, Nov 6–10 |url=http://www.cornish.edu/news/release/neil_gaimans_urban_fantasy_neverwhere_adapted_by_robert_kauzlaric_nov_6-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108233819/http://www.cornish.edu/news/release/neil_gaimans_urban_fantasy_neverwhere_adapted_by_robert_kauzlaric_nov_6-10 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |access-date=8 November 2014 |publisher=Cornish College of the Arts}}</ref>

Henry appeared as a backing singer on [[Kate Bush]]'s album ''[[The Red Shoes (album)|The Red Shoes]]'' (1993) for the song "Why Should I Love You?" on which Prince played guitar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2016 |title=Lenny Henry on Prince: 'I almost passed out. This was my hero talking to me' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/apr/24/the-time-i-sang-with-prince-and-kate-bush-by-lenny-henry |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> He also performed, backed by [[David Gilmour]] of [[Pink Floyd]], at [[Amnesty International]]'s [[The Secret Policeman's Balls|Big 3-0]] fund raising concert.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Miles |first1=Barry |title=Pink Floyd - The Visual Documentary |last2=Mabbett |first2=Andy |publisher=Omnibus |year=1994 |isbn=0-7119-4109-2}}</ref> Henry returned to the BBC to do ''[[Lenny Henry in Pieces]]'', a character-based comedy [[sketch comedy|sketch]] show which was followed by ''[[The Lenny Henry Show]]'', in which he combined stand-up, character sketches and song parodies.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

In 1994, ''The Daily Mail'' reported that Henry was set to star in a biographical film of [[Billy Strachan|Billy Strachan's]] life titled ''A Wing and a Prayer'', however the script was never turned into a movie.<ref name=":29">{{Cite book |last=Horsley |first=David |title=Billy Strachan 1921-1988 RAF Officer, Communist, Civil Rights Pioneer, Legal Administrator, Internationalist and Above All Caribbean Man |publisher=Caribbean Labour Solidarity |year=2019 |location=London |pages=27 |language=en |issn=2055-7035}}</ref> Peter Frost, a journalist for the [[Morning Star (British newspaper)|''Morning Star'']], believes that Strachan's communist beliefs were somewhat responsible for the movie not being created.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Frost |first=Peter |date=2 April 2018 |title=Billy Strachan – just 'another bloody immigrant' |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/billy-strachan-just-another-bloody-immigrant |access-date=11 May 2021 |work=The Morning Star}}</ref>

===2000s===
{{BLP sources section|date=December 2015}}

[[File:Lenny Henry red nose day 21-02-2005 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Henry on Red Nose Day 2005]]
In 2003, Henry was listed in ''[[The Observer]]'' as one of the fifty funniest acts in British comedy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guardian Staff |date=7 December 2003 |title=The 50 funniest people in Britain (part one) |url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/dec/07/comedy.thebestofbritishcomedy1 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> He was the voice of the British [[speaking clock]] for two weeks in March 2003 in aid of Comic Relief.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History Press {{!}} Celebrating 80 years of the Speaking Clock |url=https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/celebrating-80-years-of-the-speaking-clock/ |access-date=5 December 2020 |website=TheHistoryPress.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

Henry voiced Dre Head, the "[[shrunken head]]" on the [[Knight Bus]], in the 2004 [[Alfonso Cuarón]] movie ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (movie)|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', and read the audiobook version of [[Neil Gaiman]]'s ''[[Anansi Boys]]''. He also voiced Sporty on the children's show ''[[Little Robots]]''. Henry appeared in advertisements for butter products in New Zealand, commissioned by the company now known as [[Fonterra]], as well as portraying [[Saint Peter]] in the [[Virgin Mobile]] advertising campaign in South Africa. In the UK, he used his character of Theophilus P. Wildebeeste to advertise [[Alpen (food)|Alpen]] [[muesli]], and promoted the non-alcoholic [[lager]] [[Kaliber (product)|Kaliber]].

In June 2000, for a BBC documentary, he sailed a [[trimaran]] from [[Plymouth]] to [[Antigua]] with yachtsman [[Tony Bullimore]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK {{!}} Comic's yacht runs into trouble |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/775368.stm |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[BBC.co.uk]]}}</ref>  In 2005, he appeared in [[Birmingham]], as an act for ''Jasper Carrott's Rock with Laughter''. He appeared alongside performers such as [[Bill Bailey]], [[Jasper Carrott]], [[Bonnie Tyler]], [[Bobby Davro]] and the ''[[Lord of the Dance (musical)|Lord of the Dance]]'' troupe. In 2006, Henry starred in the BBC programme ''Berry's Way''. On 16 March 2007, Henry made a [[cameo appearance]] as himself in a sketch with [[Catherine Tate]], who appeared in the guise of her character [[The Catherine Tate Show characters#Geordie Georgie|Geordie Georgie]] from ''[[The Catherine Tate Show]]''. The sketch was made for the BBC [[Red Nose Day]] fundraising programme of 2007.

On 16 June 2007, Lenny appeared with [[Chris Tarrant]] and [[Sally James (presenter)|Sally James]] to present a 25th anniversary episode of ''[[Tiswas]]''. The show lasted 90 minutes and featured celebrities discussing their enjoyment of ''[[Tiswas]]'' as children, as well as appearances from kids and people who had appeared on the original show. In the summer of 2007, he presented ''Lenny's Britain'', a comedy documentary tour made with the [[Open University]] on [[BBC One]] on Tuesday nights. In late 2007, he hosted a stand-up comedy tour of the UK.

In early 2008, Henry's series ''lennyhenry.tv'' was broadcast on [[BBC One]]. The programme has an accompanying website of the same name and broadcasts strange, weird and generally amusing online videos and [[Closed-circuit television|CCTV]] clips. He starred in the [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]] show ''[[Rudy's Rare Records]]''. On 31 December 2008 and 1 January 2009, he appeared on [[Jools Holland]]'s ''[[Hootenanny (UK TV series)|Hootenanny]]'' on BBC Two, singing part of the song ''[[Mercy (Duffy song)|Mercy]]'' along with singer [[Duffy (singer)|Duffy]]. In January 2009, he appeared on the BBC's comedy show ''[[Live at the Apollo (TV series)|Live at The Apollo]]'', in which he played host for the night, introducing [[Andy Parsons]] and [[Ed Byrne (comedian)|Ed Byrne]], where he referred to Wikipedia as "Wrongopedia" for containing incorrect information about his life.

In October 2009, Henry reprised his role of Deakus to feature in comedy shorts about story writing alongside [[Nina Wadia]], [[Tara Palmer-Tomkinson]] and [[Stephen K. Amos]]. He also offers his own writing tips and amusing anecdotes in the writing tips video clip on BBC raw words – story writing. He supplied the voices of both Big and Small in the 
[[CBeebies]] children's programme ''[[Big & Small]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC – CBeebies Grownups – Big & Small |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/about/programmes/bigandsmall.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326055808/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/about/programmes/bigandsmall.shtml |archive-date=26 March 2010 |access-date=5 October 2009 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

===2010s===
[[File:Lenny Henry in The Comedy of Errors 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Henry (right) and [[Lucian Msamati]] in the [[Royal National Theatre]] production of ''[[The Comedy of Errors]]'' in 2011]]
In 2010, Henry produced and starred in a five-part web series for the BBC Comedy website, ''Conversations with my Wife'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Comedy – Conversations with my Wife |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/show/p007rcxp/lenny_henry |access-date=1 October 2010 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> about a fictional couple conversing over [[Skype]] while the wife is away on business leaving the husband (played by Henry) to hold the fort at home.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Steve |title=Comedy imitating life? : News 2010 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2010/05/17/11010/comedy_imitating_life |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[Chortle.co.uk]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 2008, he became the face of budget hotel operator [[Premier Inn]]. One of the 2010 adverts caused controversy and was banned from children's programming hours as it parodied a well-known scene from the film ''[[The Shining (film)|The Shining]]'', with Lenny Henry spoofing the scene originally starring [[Jack Nicholson]], smashing a door with an axe and then thrusting his head through the door saying: "Here's Lenny."<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 March 2010 |title=Premier Inn 'horror' ad banned from children's network |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8584109.stm |access-date=18 March 2012 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

In 2011, Henry presented a Saturday night magic series called ''[[The Magicians (UK TV series)|The Magicians]]'' on [[BBC One]]. The show returned in 2012; however, Henry was replaced by [[Darren McMullen]].

In March 2011, he appeared with [[Angela Rippon]], [[Samantha Womack]] and [[Reggie Yates]] in the BBC fundraising documentary for [[Comic Relief]] called ''Famous, Rich and in the Slums'', wherein the four celebrities were sent to [[Kibera]] in Kenya, the African continent's largest [[slum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mangan, L. |date=4 March 2011 |title=TV Review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/mar/03/love-they-neighbour-review |access-date=4 March 2011 |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

Henry was criticised for his opening sketch for the 2011 Comic Relief, during which he spoofed the film ''[[The King's Speech]]'' and grew impatient with [[Colin Firth]]'s portrayal of [[George VI|King George VI]] as he stammered over his speech. ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' reported that the [[British Stammering Association]] had branded the sketch as "a gross and disgusting gleefulness at pointing out someone else's misfortune".<ref name="kibera">{{Cite news |last=Love, Ryan |date=21 March 2011 |title=Lenny Henry criticised for 'Speech' spoof |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a310070/lenny-henry-criticised-for-speech-spoof.html |access-date=28 August 2022 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref>

In 2014, Henry appeared in and produced a play based on his radio show ''Rudy's Rare Records'', which played at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre before moving on to a run in London.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Billington |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Billington (critic) |date=10 September 2014 |title=Rudy's Rare Records review – Lenny Henry's reggae romp has the audience roaring |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/sep/10/rudys-rare-records-review-lenny-henry-birmingham-rep |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clapp |first=Susannah |author-link=Susannah Clapp |date=14 September 2014 |title=Rudy's Rare Records review – gusts of goodwill greet Lenny Henry on his home patch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/sep/14/rudys-rare-records-review-birmingham-rep-lenny-henry-lenny-henry |work=The Observer}}</ref>

Henry wrote ''[[Danny and the Human Zoo]]'', a ninety-minute television film shown on [[BBC One]] in 2015. Directed by [[Destiny Ekaragha]], it was a fictionalised account of Henry's life as a teenager in 1970s [[Dudley]]. Henry played Samson Fearon, a character based on Henry's own father Winston.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2014 |title=BBC orders Lenny Henry biographical drama |url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/59060-bbc-orders-lenny-henry-biographical-drama |access-date=8 March 2014 |work=The List}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 February 2014 |title=BBC orders Lenny Henry biographical drama |url=http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/news/story/2014/02/28/bbc-orders-lenny-henry |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095336/http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/news/story/2014/02/28/bbc-orders-lenny-henry/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=8 March 2014 |work=Virgin Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Young, Gary |date=28 February 2014 |title=Lenny Henry writes TV drama about Dudley childhood |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/lenny-henrys-dudley-childhood-tv-6757371 |access-date=8 March 2014 |work=Birmingham Mail}}</ref>

In 2017, Henry appeared in a recurring role in the third series of ''[[Broadchurch]]''.

In November 2019, it was announced that Henry would guest star in "[[Spyfall (Doctor Who)|Spyfall]]", the two-part opening episode of ''[[Doctor Who]]'''s [[Doctor Who (series 12)|twelfth revived series]], which broadcast on New Year's Day and 4 January 2020. Henry played technology billionaire Daniel Barton.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 November 2019 |title=Stephen Fry and Sir Lenny Henry CBE to appear in the twelfth series of Doctor Who |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/dw-fry-henry |website=BBC Media Centre}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 December 2019 |title=Doctor Who to land on Who Year's Day in Spyfall |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/dw-spyfall |website=BBC Media Centre}}</ref>

===2020s===
In December 2020, Henry was announced as a cast member of [[Amazon Prime Video]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=3 December 2020 |title='Lord of the Rings' Series at Amazon Adds 20 Actors to Cast |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/lord-of-the-rings-series-amazon-cast-1234845274/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |language=en-US}}</ref> It premiered on 1 September 2022.

In 2021, Henry appeared as a contestant on the [[The Masked Singer (British TV series) series 2|second series]] of ''[[The Masked Singer (British TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'' as "Blob". He finished in 6th place.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 January 2021 |title=Who went home on The Masked Singer UK? Blob revealed to be Lenny Henry |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/01/30/who-went-home-on-the-masked-singer-uk-star-inside-the-blob-revealed-13993946/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |website=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |language=en}}</ref>

On 6 November 2021, ''[[The Guardian]]'' published ''Black British culture matters'', curated by Henry and Marcus Ryder for its Saturday Culture Issue No7.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 November 2021 |title=The Guardian – Saturday Magazine Issue No.7 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk |work=The Guardian – Saturday Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='We must tell our stories': Lenny Henry introduces a Black British culture takeover |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/nov/05/we-must-tell-our-stories-lenny-henry-introduces-a-black-british-culture-takeover |access-date=29 November 2021 |website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=5 November 2021 |last1=Henry |first1=Lenny |last2=Ryder |first2=Marcus }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies, Hannah J |title='I'm constantly fighting behind the scenes' – Black comics on breaking down industry barriers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/nov/06/im-constantly-fighting-behind-the-scenes-black-comics-on-breaking-down-industry-barriers |access-date=5 November 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

In 2022, Henry was cast in ''[[The Sandman (TV series)|The Sandman]]'' as the voice of [[List of The Sandman character#Martin Tenbones|Martin Tenbones]], a magical, doglike creature who appears in the dreams of another character called Barbie.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Craig |first=David |date=9 August 2022 |title=Meet the cast of The Sandman, Netflix's epic from Neil Gaiman |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/sandman-netflix-cast-characters/ |website=[[Radio Times]]}}</ref>

Henry penned ''[[Three Little Birds (TV series)|Three Little Birds]]'', a six-part drama series, based on and inspired by his mother's [[Windrush scandal|Windrush]] experience and co-written with [[Russell T Davies]], and first broadcast on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV and ITVX]] in October/November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 October 2023 |title=ITV reveals first look clip of Sir Lenny Henry's Windrush drama Three Little Birds |url=https://rts.org.uk/article/itv-reveals-first-look-clip-sir-lenny-henrys-windrush-drama-three-little-birds |access-date=1 November 2023 |website=[[Royal Television Society]] |language=en}}</ref> On 31 January 2024, Henry announced that he would be hosting Comic Relief for the final time when the fundraiser returned on 15 March.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 January 2024 |title=Comic Relief 2024: Sir Lenny Henry to host for final time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68135677/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=[[BBC.co.uk]]}}</ref>

In 2024, Henry voiced Mr. Convenience in ''[[Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mensah |first=Katelyn |date=December 25, 2024 |title=Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl cast - Who's returned? |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/wallace-gromit-vengeance-most-fowl-cast/ |website=[[Radio Times]]}}</ref>