Page 70 - Powerlist 2020

Media, Publishing & Entertainment

Sir Lenny Henry diversity schemes for failing to go far enough. He
Actor, writer, campaigner delivered a keynote speech at Cannes, proposing tax
breaks for diversity and he has called for ethnic diversity
to be entrenched into any new Royal Charter to address
In a career that began in his teens, Sir Lenny has grown “systemic failure” at the BBC in representing minorities
into one of Britain’s best-loved comedians, as well as a on screen and behind the camera.
writer, philanthropist and award-winning actor. Sir Lenny was chosen by Baroness Doreen Lawrence to
He started out in comedy but has since worked as a speak at the Stephen Lawrence memorial in 2018.
stage, film and TV actor. The author of several books and He has been a Trustee of the National Theatre since 2016.
a former BBC Radio 1 DJ, he also has his own production In the same year he was awarded the Alan Clarke Award
company, Douglas Road. for outstanding contribution to television at the Bafta
Sir Lenny has used his platform to support and establish Awards and made a fellow of the Royal Television Society.
charitable causes, and in the 1980s he founded Comic In June 2017, Lenny began his five-year term as Chancellor
Relief. The charity has since raised over £1billion for good of Birmingham City University.
causes at home and abroad. He toured the UK in autumn with a show called Who Am
He is an avid supporter of diversity in British television I, Again? and simultaneously published an autobiography
and the arts, criticising current broadcast industry of the same name.

70 Powerlist 2020