Sir Lenny Henry: Birmingham comedian to receive Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards

Sir Lenny Henry will receive his award at the NTA’s, which will be aired on ITV from 8pm on Thursday October 13
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Birmingham-born Sir Lenny Henry is to be presented with a special award at the National Television Awards.

Sir Lenny, who is originally from Dudley, will receive the NTA’s Special Recognition Award at the ceremony which will be broadcast on Thursday(October 13).

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The writer and campaigner is being recognised for his long and successful career in TV.

A spokesperson for the National Television Awards said: “Sir Lenny Henry is to be presented with the NTAs’ coveted gold Special Recognition Award, honouring his trailblazing career in UK television.”

Among those congratulating Sir Lenny for his achievements as a writer, campaigner, comedian and presenter will be Hollywood superstar Whoopi Goldberg, who says, “If you want to know what a superhero looks like, take a look at Sir Lenny Henry.”

The life of Sir Lenny Henry

Sir Lenny Henry started working in television when he was just 16-years-old - starring in Britain’s first ever black sitcom ‘The Fosters’.

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From the beginning of the 80s Sir Lenny was involved in various things from Tiswas to Three of a Kind to OTT to The Lenny Henry Show - this show lasted for 10 years.

In 2015, Lenny Henry became Sir Lenny Henry when he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to drama and charity.

Sir Lenny states on his website that he took the honour for his mum, saying: “When I imagined my mum being at the knighthood ceremony in a five-foot wide church hat, obscuring the vision of everybody behind her, I just thought, ‘I’m going to do this.’

“So the knighthood was a big moment for me, and my family, and we had a very, very good party afterwards.

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“There’s a picture of me in an inflatable rubber crown and my eyes are crossed. So I think we imbibed a bit, but it was a fantastic day.”

Sir Lenny is of course also well known for his charity work and being involved in the Red Nose Day charity events that have raised millions of pounds for good causes over the years.

Previous awards

Sir Lenny can add the Special Recognition Award from the NTAs to a host of accolades he has picked up over the years.

These include the Alan Clarke Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television at the 2016 BAFTAs and an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2019 South Bank Show Awards.

When are the NTA Awards?

The 2022 National Television Awards will be aired on ITV from 8pm on Thursday October 13.

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