Sir Lenny Henry to Step Down as Comic Relief Host After 39 Years

Sir Lenny Henry, the co-founder of Comic Relief, has announced that he will be hosting the charity’s annual telethon for the last time in March. Henry founded Comic Relief alongside director Richard Curtis in 1985 and has been at the helm of the fundraising event for nearly 40 years. He stated that it was time for new faces to take over and lead the next chapter of Comic Relief.

The final episode of Comic Relief, known as Red Nose Day, will be broadcasted live on BBC One on March 15. While Henry will no longer be the main presenter, he mentioned that he will continue to make special appearances and documentaries for the charity. In a statement, Henry expressed his gratitude towards the British public for their kindness and generosity in supporting Comic Relief throughout the years.

A comedy night at the London Palladium will be held on February 26 as part of this year’s campaign. Aisling Bea, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Joel Dommett, Mawaan Rizwan, Rosie Jones, and Sara Pascoe will join Sir Lenny on stage for the event. Additionally, Sir Lenny has filmed a sketch where he speaks with various celebrities, including Jonathan Bailey, Dame Joan Collins, Gemma Collins, Davina McCall, Simon Cowell, and Alison Hammond, about their fundraising plans.

Over the course of its history, Comic Relief has raised more than £1.5bn in donations, helping to tackle poverty and provide essential support to vulnerable individuals and communities both in the UK and around the world. Sir Lenny Henry’s contributions to the charity over the decades have been widely recognized, and his last Red Nose Day appearance will be marked as a special occasion by the BBC.