Lenny Henry – författare

** PRE ORDER LENNY HENRY'S NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY RISING TO THE SURFACE NOW **Sir Lenny Henry is one of the country's best-loved comedians with a career spanning over forty years. Here he writes about his youth for the first time.You might think you know Lenny Henry. Think again.'Glorious.' NEIL GAIMAN'Touching and affectionate.' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS, SUNDAY TIMES'Heartfelt . . . honest.' OBSERVER'Moving, powerful and very funny.' MAIL ON SUNDAYIn 1975, a gangly black sixteen-year-old apprentice factory worker from Dudley appeared on our TV screens for the first time. He had no idea he would go on to become a national treasure. Here at last, Sir Lenny Henry tells the revealing and very funny story of his rise to fame.Surviving a tough family upbringing, along with the trauma of finding out the truth about his father at a young age, Lenny beat the odds. With a riotous warmth and his trademark energy, in Who Am I, Again? he tells the heart-breakingly honest and inspirational story of his youth.AN i BOOK OF THE YEARA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK'So appealing . . . Witty, charming and engagingly self-aware.' i 'Funny, warm and self-deprecating.' THE TIMES'A raw, touching memoir.' GUARDIAN'An endearing memoir . . . He's a skilful storyteller.' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Enjoyable and endearing.' DAILY EXPRESS

** PRE-ORDER LENNY HENRY'S NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY RISING TO THE SURFACE NOW ** Sir Lenny Henry rang up the Office for National Statistics to confirm something he'd been thinking about for a long time. They told him that only 29.5% of the United Kingdom's population is made up of white, heterosexual, able-bodied men; so, he wonders, why do they still make up the vast majority of people we see in our media?Joining forces with the former Chair of the Royal Television Society's Diversity Committee Marcus Ryder, he draws on decades of experience to reveal why recent efforts to diversify media have been thus far ineffective, and why they are simply not enough. With wit, humour and unflinching gravitas they analyse the flaws of current diversity initiatives, point out the structural and financial imbalances working against the cause, and provide clear solutions to get the media industry back on track.Access All Areas is an urgent, actionable manifesto that will dramatically shift the debate around diversity and the media.

'A book all should read, particularly white people.' Irish Times'Essential . . . Written with clarity and passion.' Jeffrey Boakye, GuardianBLACK BRITISH LIVES MATTER is a clarion call for equality, from nineteen of the most prominent Black figures in Britain today. Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder introduce an essential collection of essays arguing how and why we need to fight for Black lives to matter - not just for Black people, but for British society as a whole. Writing across a wide range of subjects, and drawing on personal experience, all nineteen writers explore the unique contributions, perspectives and importance of Black Britons to the UK and beyond. It is both a celebration of Black British lives and an urgent, agenda-setting manifesto for change. Contributors include David Olusoga, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Kit de Waal, Dr Anne-Marie-Imafidon, Sir David Adjaye, Leroy Logan and Professor Kehinde Andrews.

The rise and fall and triumphant rise from the ashes of Lenny Henry during the 80s and 90s.'Moving and ebullient' Daily Telegraph 'Relayed with characteristic exuberance and self-deprecation' Guardian Rising to the Surface traces Lenny Henry's career through the 80s and 90s. The 16-year-old who won a talent competition, now has to navigate his way through the seas of professional comedy, learning his craft through sheer graft and hard work.We follow Lenny through a period of great creativity - prize-winning tv programmes, summer seasons across Britain, the starring role in a Hollywood film, and stand-up gigs in New York. But with each rise there is a fall, the most traumatic being the death of his mother. But by the end of the book he has been able to rise through a sea of troubles and breaks out to the surface to accept the Golden Rose of Montreaux for his work in television.

'The king of character comedy.' Good Housekeeping'A lynchpin of British comedy.' Alan MooreThe nation's favourite comedian opens up about two extraordinary decades at the heart of British comedy. Packed with inside stories and wisdom, this is a heartfelt, inspiring and always-hilarious memoir of a true comedy legend.'Relayed with characteristic exuberance and self-deprecation.' Fiona Sturges, Book of the Day Guardian'Highly enjoyable . . . Funny, pacy and sharp.' Mail on Sunday'Moving and honest.' ObserverThis paperback edition contains a new chapter in which Lenny Henry wrestles with Shakespeare as he searches for a new direction in his career.

'Both timely and vital . . . There has never been greater need for a thoughtful discussion on race. This study of the case for reparations, which binds the past and present together so cleverly, is an important contribution.' Diane Abbott, GuardianAt the abolition of the slave trade two centuries ago, the British government paid huge amounts of compensation to slave-owners. Only in 2015 did British taxpayers stop paying off this debt.How is it that slave-owners were paid compensation from our taxes, yet the enslaved and their families were not? Why should the descendants of former slaveowners still benefit from inherited wealth while the successors of the victims of slavery receive nothing, and may have even paid towards the debt of compensation through their taxes?Beginning with these simple but startling questions, Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder explore the burning issue of how best can we resolve the inequality resulting from 400 years of the enslavement of African people and the ongoing racism still suffered by millions across the world.Talking to reparation experts, economists, politicians, and anti-racism campaigners, including Bell Rebeiro-Addy, Robert Beckford, Kenneth Mohammed and Kehinde Andrews, they investigate how reparations can work, and how we can help to make them happen.

Lenny Henry's playwriting debut is a poignant, hilarious portrait of a life affected by the terrible injustice of the Windrush Scandal.Yu see me? I was eight years old when I come to H'Inglan' - I travel on my mother's passportAugust Henderson, fifty-two years in England, a proud West Bromwich Albion fan, part-owner of a fruit and veg emporium, and a devoted dad. He's got the gift of the gab, exaggerates his musical talents, has no head for paperwork and is about to marry the woman he loves. And then the Home Office threatens him with deportation. August won't go quietly.August in England opened at the Bush Theatre, London, in April 2023.Nominated for The Stage Debut Award for Best Writer.

Perfect for fans of fast-paced adventures, The Book of Legends, from comedian Lenny Henry, is a laugh-out-loud magical story for 8-12 year olds, illustrated throughout by the incredibly talented Keenon Ferrell.Twins, Bran and Fran, are two ordinary kids who are about to go on an extraordinary adventure! When their mum mysteriously disappears in a lightning strike, just like their dad, the twins are all alone and know they have to stick together – if only to face their new guardian’s terrible cooking! But when their mum’s treasured storybook turns out to be a portal to another world full of mythical legends, everything changes.Suddenly, evil princes, mud monsters and Viking armies are all very real and out to get them. Luckily, the twins have Wilma, the Wizard's Wife, and Zachary, a wisecracking Zebracorn, to help them solve the mystery surrounding their parents’ disappearance.Quests are no joke (but there are lots of jokes in this book) and this is the quest of a lifetime . . .

Drawing together the work of ten leading playwrights – a mixture of established and current writers – National Theatre Connections 2013 offers young performers between the ages of thirteen and nineteen everywhere an engaging selection of plays to perform, read or study. Each play is specifically commissioned by the National Theatre’s literary department and reflects the past year’s programming at the venue in the plays’ ideas, themes and styles. The plays are performed by approximately 200 schools and youth theatre companies across the UK and Ireland, in partnership with multiple professional regional theatres where the works are showcased.The volume features an introduction by Anthony Banks, Associate Director for the National Theatre Discover Programme, and each play includes notes from the writer and director addressing the themes and ideas behind the play, as well as production notes and exercises.Published to coincide with the 2013 Connections festival, and the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre, this year's collection features work from Howard Brenton, Jim Cartwright, Lucinda Coxon, Ryan Craig, Stacey Gregg, Jonathan Harvey, Lenny Henry, Jemma Kennedy, Morna Pearson, and Anya Reiss.

You Can Do Anything, Tyrone! is a fantastic fun tale of imagination and adventure from the award-winning comedian and actor Sir Lenny Henry.Tyrone is going to build a brilliant rocket ship out of building blocks and go on an adventure to the moon! There's just one problem . . . the blocks won't work, and Tyrone quickly loses his temper. Luckily, Grandad Cleveland is on hand to show him that with self belief, a bit of determination and a lot of imagination, there’s nothing Tyrone can't do. In fact, why stop at the moon when there's the rest of the world and a whole universe to explore!A highly entertaining rhyming story full of love, family and fun - brilliantly brought to life by illustrator Salomey Doku.

The Boy with Wings is the brilliantly exciting, action-packed, middle-grade adventure from award-winning and much-loved comedian and actor, Lenny Henry. Highly illustrated throughout by Keenon Ferrell.

An ordinary kid is about to become an EXTRAORDINARY hero in The Boy with Wings, an action-packed adventure by comedy legend Lenny Henry.Wings? Check.A super-cool, super-secret past? Check.An impossible mission to save the world from a fur-ocious enemy? Check.When Tunde sprouts wings and learns he’s all that stands between Earth and total destruction, suddenly school is the least of his problems. Luckily, his rag-tag group of pals have got his back, and with his new powers, Tunde is ready to fly in the face of danger.So what if he can’t even stand up to the school bully? He’s the boy with wings – this is his destiny.No pressure then. . .Lenny Henry's funny first novel is for readers of 9 to 12, illustrated throughout by Keenon Ferrell. Includes an exclusive comic book adventure illustrated by Mark Buckingham.

Perfect for fans of fast-paced adventures, The Book of Legends, from comedian Lenny Henry, is a laugh-out-loud magical story for 8-12 year olds, illustrated throughout by the incredibly talented Keenon Ferrell.Twins, Bran and Fran, are two ordinary kids who are about to go on an extraordinary adventure! When their mum mysteriously disappears in a lightning strike, just like their dad, the twins are all alone and know they have to stick together – if only to face their new guardian’s terrible cooking! But when their mum’s treasured storybook turns out to be a portal to another world full of mythical legends, everything changes.Suddenly, evil princes, mud monsters and Viking armies are all very real and out to get them. Luckily, the twins have Wilma, the Wizard's Wife, and Zachary, a wisecracking Zebracorn, to help them solve the mystery surrounding their parents’ disappearance.Quests are no joke (but there are lots of jokes in this book) and this is the quest of a lifetime . . .

Perfect for fans of fast-paced adventures, The Book of Legends, from comedian Lenny Henry is a laugh-out-loud magical story for 8-12 year olds, illustrated throughout by the incredibly talented Keenon Ferrell.Twins, Bran and Fran, are two ordinary kids who are about to go on an extraordinary adventure! When their mum mysteriously disappears in a lightning strike, just like their dad, the twins are all alone and know they have to stick together – if only to face their new guardian’s terrible cooking! But when their mum’s treasured storybook turns out to be a portal to another world full of mythical legends, everything changes.Suddenly, evil princes, mud monsters and Viking armies are all very real and out to get them. Luckily, the twins have Wilma, the Wizard's Wife, and Zachary, a wisecracking Zebracorn, to help them solve the mystery surrounding their parents’ disappearance.Quests are no joke (but there are lots of jokes in this book) and this is the quest of a lifetime . . .

Join Tunde on his next superpowered mission in The Boy with Wings: Clash of the Superkids, a hilarious, action packed story from Lenny Henry, illustrated throughout by Keenon Ferrell.Wings? Check.A super-cool, super-secret past? Check.An impossible mission to save the world from a super evil enemy? Check.When Tunde’s parents take him to a top-secret testing facility called The Complex, he’s nervous about meeting others like him who have super powers. But trying to make new friends is the least of his worries. There’s something much scarier going on. And it’s going take more than just the boy with wings to stop it . . . Now that flight isn’t an option, the only choice is to fight.

Join Tunde on his next superpowered mission in The Boy with Wings: Clash of the Superkids, a hilarious, action packed story from Lenny Henry, illustrated throughout by Keenon Ferrell.Wings? Check.A super-cool, super-secret past? Check.An impossible mission to save the world from a super evil enemy? Check.When Tunde’s parents take him to a top-secret testing facility called The Complex, he’s nervous about meeting others like him who have super powers. But trying to make new friends is the least of his worries. There’s something much scarier going on. And it’s going take more than just the boy with wings to stop it . . . Now that flight isn’t an option, the only choice is to fight.

You Can Do Anything, Tyrone! is a fantastic fun tale of imagination and adventure from the award-winning comedian and actor Sir Lenny Henry.Tyrone is going to build a brilliant rocket ship out of building blocks and go on an adventure to the moon! There's just one problem . . . the blocks won't work, and Tyrone quickly loses his temper. Luckily, Grandad Cleveland is on hand to show him that with self belief, a bit of determination and a lot of imagination, there’s nothing Tyrone can't do. In fact, why stop at the moon when there's the rest of the world and a whole universe to explore!A highly entertaining rhyming story full of love, family and fun - brilliantly brought to life by illustrator Salomey Doku.

Tyrone and Grandad Cleveland are off on a new adventure, this time to the barbershop. Tyrone's Cool Crown is the second fun-filled imaginative tale from award-winning comedian and actor, Lenny Henry.Tyrone loves his hair and all the cool shapes he can make with it. No clippers are coming anywhere near him! But after an afternoon diving through the leaves in the park, Grandad Cleveland and Mum think it's time for a trip to the barbers. Tyrone does not want to go! But once he's sat in the chair in Dalisa's grooving salon, and after some history and comforting words from Grandad, Tyrone feels like a king!A joyful celebration of hair, told through a highly entertaining rhyming story and brilliantly brought to life by illustrator Salomey Doku.

Lenny Henry's brilliant first novel for readers of 9 to 12, illustrated throughout by Keenon Ferrell. Includes an exclusive comic book adventure illustrated by Mark Buckingham.An ordinary kid is about to become an EXTRAORDINARY hero!Wings? Check.A super-cool, super-secret past? Check.An impossible mission to save the world from a fur-ocious enemy? Check.When Tunde sprouts wings and learns he’s all that stands between Earth and total destruction, suddenly school is the least of his problems. Luckily, his rag-tag group of pals have got his back, and with his new powers, Tunde is ready to fly in the face of danger. So what if he can’t even stand up to the school bully? He’s the boy with wings – this is his destiny.No pressure then. . .