Over the years, Lenny Henry has grown from being a supporting performer on children's TV into one of the UK's top comedians. He has appeared in a number of television shows and films, helped to establish Red Nose Day, married Dawn French and adopted a child. He is acknowledged with playing a pivotal role in bringing a black perspective into the mainstream of British comedy yet remaining appealing to all people whatever their background, race or age.

Lenny graced British TV screens for the first time in 1975, aged 17, appearing as a comic and impressionist on the talent show New Faces. He did a Frank Spencer2 impersonation, and although he lost the competition in the final round, he had made his mark, and was about to embark on a non-stop career.

He left his apprenticeship, and began touring the clubs, usually with his mother Winnie waiting in the wings. As with all comedians on the clubs, he had good nights and bad nights (one performance was watched by a massive audience of three). He then began touring the British variety circuit, with The Black And White Minstrel Show and Cannon and Ball he was the first genuine black member of the Minstrels. Of his first performance he later said, 'They picked me because they thought they could save on make-up.'. His original stand-up comedy material often included jokes and impressions that would nowadays be considered racist.

In 1976, he was offered a part in The Fosters, which was the first British TV sitcom to feature a predominantly black cast. However, it was his comedic contributions to a Saturday-morning kiddies programme - TISWAS, with Chris Tarrant - and the later adult version OTT, that really gained him popularity.

TISWAS represented an anarchic, irreverent style of comedy and Chris Tarrant made a big impression on me. It was then that I began to develop my work - I did Three of a Kind straight afterwards and started looking at what other comedians were doing. I remember going to the Comedy Store and realising that I didn't have to rely on impersonations so much and that I could be funnier by being myself!

From TISWAS, Lenny was recruited by BBC Producer Paul Jackson for Three Of A Kind, a prime-time, fast-paced sketch show that co-starred Tracey Ullman and David Copperfield. Writers for the project were also to include a young Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, of Red Dwarf fame. Three Of A Kind ran for three series and was an indication that Lenny could produce great results. In turn it led to Lenny getting his own series in 1984 - imaginatively entitled The Lenny Henry Show - which combined his impressions with his characters.

Lenny's characters have evolved hugely over the years and a lot of that is due to the influence of a certain Dawn French. However, his style of comedy has evolved all the way from straight jokes and impressions through subtle parody into chaotic, often farcical comedy, as well as every point in between. Characters first seen in The Lenny Henry Show were developed further in other television series and performances, which enabled Lenny to devote episodes to individual characters such as David Bellamy and Sir Trevor McDonald - TISWAS saw the creation of Trevor McDonut, a newscaster, obviously taken from Trevor McDonald. McDonald became the first black news reader on British TV in 1973, and was an easy target for Lenny's talent. However, good sport that McDonald is, he actually came on the show and performed a sketch with Lenny.

Lenny met Dawn French in 1982 and invited her to write for OTT. She turned him down, insisting that it takes her at least six months to write a sketch and that she didn't have the time. She also did not appreciate the racial side of his comedy she was quite candid in telling him that he offended her politically correct 'alternative comedy' allegiances. Through her influence, Lenny redirected his material, and was able to work on projects that pushed his talent. Often, Dawn made notes at the side of the stage, then later they would go through what material worked and what didn't. In essence, Dawn gave Lenny the confidence to search his soul for experiences to make comedic, rather than to rely on old stereotypes and impressions.

Lenny and Dawn became engaged in 1983. They married a year later, on 20 October, 1984, at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London. 350 people attended, including a number of celebrities, including Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Chris Tarrant, Tracey Ullman and Robbie Coltrane.

Comic Relief was established in 1985 after the success of Band Aid and Live Aid. It was set up by comedians, including Lenny, to use comedy as a medium to raise money for a number of extremely worthy causes in the UK and overseas. Lenny has become a key member of their fundraising team, co-hosting the programme, and participating in a variety of ways, including being the voice of the Speaking Clock for a period in 2003.

Throughout the history of Red Nose Day - the biannual Comic Relief event - Lenny has thrown himself into the spirit of the campaign.

Lenny's live tours have a reputation for being noisy, chaotic and daring events. He has performed a number of tours across the UK and throughout Australia and New Zealand.