Lenny Henry Addresses Persistent Racism in UK Amid Standup Return
Comedian Lenny Henry has stated that racism remains "still at large" as he embarks on his first standup tour in over 15 years.
Henry, widely recognized for The Lenny Henry Show, which aired from 1984 to 2005, remarked that many of the issues he discussed in the 1980s continue to be relevant today.
"The reason the show is called Still At Large isn’t only because I’m still at large, but because things I used to talk about in the 80s are still at large now – like racism, the rise of the far right, the tumult we’re in as a world at the moment," he told the Sunday Times.
"These are things we have to deal with, and I think it’s all right to talk about these things because I’m 67, so I’m allowed."
Early Life and Experiences with Racism
Born and raised in Dudley, Henry was six years old when Conservative Peter Griffiths won the nearby Smethwick parliamentary seat with the controversial campaign slogan, "If you want a [racist slur] for a neighbour, vote Labour." Four years later, Enoch Powell delivered his infamous "rivers of blood" speech in Birmingham. Henry has often spoken about the racist abuse he endured during his youth.
Career Beginnings and Theatre Work
Henry began his career after winning the television talent show New Faces in 1975. In 2009, he portrayed Othello in a Yorkshire Playhouse production that toured the UK before transferring to the West End. Although he continued to perform occasional gigs, he ceased touring 16 years ago, citing the need for a break and describing touring as "exhausting."
"I’m a massive fan of Billy Connolly, Richard Pryor and Chris Rock, and I feel that as they grew older they became better, because their authenticity came through stronger," he said.
Return to Standup and Tour Details
Henry’s current tour, which began in May and will continue until 3 November, marks his return to standup comedy after a long hiatus.
The Comic Relief co-founder explained that the decision to return to the stage arose from performing shows where he noticed audiences encouraging more spontaneous interaction beyond scripted material.
"I got a bit tired of the travelling and I thought I didn’t want to do it for the rest of my life, but it turns out I didn’t want to stop it completely," he said.
"When I did a one-person show I wrote called August In England, and then Every Brilliant Thing, written by Jonny Donahoe, I found that when I was interacting with the audience, they were egging me on to do more outside the script.
"I thought, ‘oh, they want me to do a set again’. So, I started to think two years ago about what that would look like."
Other Notable Work and Advocacy
In addition to his standup and television work, Henry is known for appearances on Tiswas and Three Of A Kind. He has been a long-standing advocate for improved minority representation within the arts.
