{"id":44918,"date":"2024-01-31T18:30:40","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T17:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1983710"},"modified":"2024-01-31T19:12:34","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T18:12:34","slug":"lenny-henry-explains-why-hes-stepping-down-as-comic-relief-host-after-nearly-40-years","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/lenny-henry-explains-why-hes-stepping-down-as-comic-relief-host-after-nearly-40-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Lenny Henry explains why he\u2019s stepping down as Comic Relief host after nearly 40 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 65-year-old comedian speaks exclusively to us about the decision to no longer host the BBC fundraising telethon. <\/p>

By Laura Rutkowski\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 31 January 2024 at 17:30 PM<\/p>

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Today, Sir Lenny Henry revealed that he will host Comic Relief for the last time when it airs on BBC One on Friday 15th March this year.<\/p>\n

The comedian co-founded the charity with director Richard Curtis in 1985. The very first Red Nose Day in 1988 was held in response to the famine in Ethiopia that killed one million people. Thirty million viewers raised over \u00a315 million across eight hours of TV comedy.<\/p>\n

Donations have since surpassed \u00a31.5 billion, with funds raised to help people in the UK and around the world tackle poverty, and provide food, healthcare and safe shelter.<\/p>\n

Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com<\/a> at the Radio Times Covers Party<\/strong>, Henry tells us: \u201cI think it\u2019s good, change is good. I\u2019m not going anywhere, I\u2019m just not going to host on the night. I might still make films for them and do voiceovers and things, but I think it\u2019s time for a newer generation to come and take the baton, because we\u2019ve been carrying it for a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got some people, so it\u2019s gonna be really, really good. There might be some competition, so I\u2019m looking forward to seeing how that goes. I hope they oil up and fight in the carpark!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sir Lenny Henry for Comic Relief<\/span><\/figcaption> Rebecca Naen\/Comic Relief via Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

During almost 40 years at the helm, what have been his most special Comic Relief memories?<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery single trip to the continent of Africa to make documentaries about what\u2019s going on there \u2013 how resilient, how enduring the people are and how they have got a sense of humour even in the worst possible times. Also, working with the Comic Relief team. They\u2019re so brilliant and hardworking, it\u2019s a tribute to them really.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe main thing is the British public are legendary in terms of how much they\u2019ve given, how much they\u2019ve done, so I salute them.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Comic Relief launched last night with an online sketch, where Henry called celebrities, including Jonathan Bailey, Dame Joan Collins, Gemma Collins, Davina McCall, Simon Cowell and Alison Hammond, to ask about their fundraising plans.<\/p>\n