Lenny Henry's life off-screen from real name to Dawn French marriage split

Sir Lenny Henry has been a staple of British television for many years, with an illustrious career spanning comedy, writing, and acting. The 66 year old is perhaps most recognised for his eponymous programme, The Lenny Henry Show, as well as co-founding the charity Comic Relief alongside Richard Curtis, which subsequently gave rise to Red Nose Day.

His latest television endeavour sees him delving into his personal history, including his early life, as he's set to feature on Alison Hammond's Big Weekend. The programme will follow the duo spending a day together in West London, exploring Lenny's past. Let's delve into the comedian's life, from his multifaceted career to his marriage to Dawn French....

Early years

Born in Dudley in August 1958 to parents Winston and Winifred, Lenny's full name is Lenworth George Henry, named after the doctor who delivered him at Burton Road Hospital.

He is the fifth of seven siblings and was the first child in his family to be born in the UK. Lenny later discovered that his biological father was a man named Albert Augustus Green, known as Bertie, with whom his mother had a brief relationship when she first arrived in England from Jamaica.

Lenny's education journey took him from St John's Primary School and The Blue Coat School in Dudley to W. R. Tuson College in Preston.

Lenny's career

Lenny's journey to stardom began in the humble settings of working men's clubs, performing stand-up comedy. His big break came in 1975 when he won the New Faces talent show with his remarkable impersonations.

His career trajectory soared as he joined The Comic Strip and BBC Radio 1, making regular television appearances. The Lenny Henry Show made its debut on the BBC in 1984, enjoying a successful run for 19 years.

In 1985, Lenny and Richard Curtis co-founded the charity Comic Relief, launching the inaugural Red Nose Day three years later.

Over the years, Lenny has graced our screens in TV shows like The Syndicate and Doctor, lent his voice to children's programme Big and Small, and participated in game shows such as The Masked Singer.

Off-screen, he's penned two autobiographies and a pair of young adult fantasy novels, co-produced the blues album New Millennium Blues, and showcased his acting chops in theatre productions.

Marriage to Dawn French

Lenny crossed paths with Dawn in 1980 when they were both part of the comedy show Comic Strip.

They exchanged vows in a beautiful ceremony in London's Covent Garden in 1984, followed by a lavish reception.

The couple welcomed their adopted daughter Billie in 1991 when she was just two weeks old. Now 34, Billie prefers to stay away from the limelight.

In 2010, Dawn and Lenny made the mutual decision to go their separate ways. They released a joint statement about their split, stating: "The separation is entirely amicable and they fully intend to maintain their close friendship. Their priority is to commit to the future joint parenting of their daughter."

The duo have kept up a strong friendship and have often spoken warmly of each other in various interviews.

Lenny opened up about the reasons behind their separation in a 2016 interview with the Daily Express, saying: "There's generally a situation where one partner wants the marriage to finish more than the other."

He elaborated, "I think maybe one of us did, then the other one did, and then the other did over a period of time, and then, in the end, we thought, 'Oh, actually maybe we both do'. We knew it wasn't possible to continue."

Longterm girlfriend

Post-divorce, Lenny has found happiness once more and is currently in a committed relationship.

He began seeing Lisa Makin in 2012, who is known for her work as a casting director and theatre producer.

Lisa's professional credits, as listed on IMDb, include casting roles for several miniseries such as Peaches, Mine All Mine, Aberfan: The Untold Story, among others.

Lenny and Lisa are often seen together at high-profile events, though they prefer to keep the finer details of their relationship private.

On the other hand, Dawn has since remarried, tying the knot with therapist Mark Bignell.

Alison Hammond's Big Weekend airs on BBC One on Friday at 8.30pm