Original ticket for a "The Lenny Henry Show" recording at BBC Television Centre

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The Lenny Henry Show

Lenny Henry first worked with Geoff Posner when Geoff was directing on the BBC early-evening sketch show “Three Of A Kind”, which also launched the career of Tracy Ullman (and from there, via a very convoluted route The Simpsons...). Meanwhile, when “Three Of A Kind” finished its third run, the BBC decided to give Lenny his solo show, working with Geoff again and pretty much the same team of writers.

The show was a major hit for early-evening BBC One,  launching perennially popular characters such as Delbert Wilkins, soul singer Theophilus P Wildebeeste, first generation Jamaican immigrant Deakus and Josh Yarlog. It also had spectacular music parodies, including the legendary “Thriller” Michael Jackson spoof

After the first two series, Lenny decided to create six half-hour sitcoms, each with a new central character played by himself, and with scripts written partly by series writers like his stand-up writer alter ego and long-term collaborator Kim Fuller and partly by established writers like Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais.

The next  series was two 6-part episodes of a sitcom written by Andrew Nickolds and Stan Hey who had long worked with Lenny and starred Lenny as Brixton wideboy Delbert Wilkins. Showing boundless flexibility, Lenny then created two more sketch specials, for Christmas 1987 and 1988. All were produced and directed by Geoff Posner.

The Lenny Henry Show

Series 3

Show 1

"Pratt Outta Hell"

First Tx. 4/9/86 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

The tale of a super-cool but demented despatch rider... 

Starring
VinceLenny Henry
 
with
ChainDicken Ashworth
CrowDavid Ashworth
BossChris Barrie
NorrisRam John Holder
Lost Property ManNorman Beaton
 
Written byBen Elton

Show 2

"Popsi"

First Tx. 11/9/86 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Popsi, a Jamaican barber, finds it hard to come to terms with 1980’s hairstyles and accessories... 

Starring
PopsiLenny Henry
 
with
MarvinChris Tummings
PatCathy Tyson
BugeyePaul McKenzie
AlbertCameron Miller
LloydyRudolph Walker
 
Written byTundi Ikoli

Show 3

"Gronk Zillman"

First Tx. 18/9/86 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Gronk Zillman, a time-travelling detective is so far ahead of his time he solves a crime that won’t happen for another 49 years...

Starring
Gronk ZillmanLenny Henry
 
with
StephanieHarriet Thorpe
ControllerConnie Booth
CabbieAlan Talbot
GuardRonny Brodie
MPGeorge Baker
BuskerMidge Ure
 
Written byKim Fuller

Show 4

"Neighbourhood Watch"

First Tx. 25/9/86 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Living in suburbia, Francis Disley has mundane questions on his mind, and he’s seeking answers... 

Starring
Francis DisleyLenny Henry
 
with
Julia DisleyDawn French
DennyDaniel Peacock
RogerLee Cornes
NeighbourJimmy Nail
IranianHarry Enfield
 
Written byDick Clement
&Ian La Frenais

Show 5

"What A Country"

First Tx. 2/10/86 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

It’s 1955, and Desmond King, newly arrived in England from Jamaica cannot wait to sample the milk and honey land of unlimited job opportunities and civility...

Starring
Desmond KingLenny Henry
 
with
Pathé News InterviewerChris Douglas
CommissionaireAndy De La Tour
Mr HodgesVictor Maddern
VicarJohn Fortune
Big Eddie PilkingtonClive Mantle
 
Written byAndrew Nickolds
&Stan Hey

Show 6

"Heavenly Romance"

First Tx. 9/10/86 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

The ultra-boring Fielding and the other staff on a new video teen-magazine tell their stories in words, pictures and music

Starring
Jupiter/Fielding BurchillLenny Henry
 
Juno/CarolDebbie Bishop
TrellickEllis Dale
SteveBilly Hartman
MercuryChris Darwin
 
Written byKim Fuller
&Simon Brint
 
Produced & directed byGeoff Posner

Series 4

Show 1

"Sonny Sidles Up"

First Tx. 27/10/87 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Show 2

"Leg Of Darkness"

First Tx. 3/11/87 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Show 3

"Play Misty Blue For Me"

 First Tx. 10/11/87 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Show 4

"Money’s Too Tight To Mention"

First Tx. 24/11/87 BBC 1 20.30-21.00 

Show 5

"Out On Bails"

 First Tx. 24/11/87 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Show 6

"A Mega-Star Is Born"

First Tx. 1/12/87 BBC 1 20.30-21.00 

Starring
Delbert WilkinsLenny Henry
 
with
WinstonVas Blackwood
RoseEllen Thomas
JulieGina McKee
AlexMichael Mears
WazimNaim Kahn
Sgt. LillieMalcolm Rennie
PC MonkhousePip Torrens
JakeLouis Mahoney
 
Written byAndrew Nickolds
&Stan Hey
 
Produced & directed byGeoff Posner

Series 5

Show 1

"Back To My Roots"

First Tx. 15/9/88 BBC 1 20.30-21.00 

Show 2

"Enterprise Zones"

First Tx. 22/9/88 BBC 1 20.30-21.00 

Show 3

"The Single Life"

 First Tx. 29/9/88 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Show 4

"In-Laws And Out-Laws"

First Tx. 13/10/88 BBC 1 20.30-21.00 

Show 5

"The Crucial Health"

 First Tx. 20/10/88 BBC 1 20.30-21.00

Show 6

"Public Enemy"

First Tx. 27/10/88 BBC 1 20.30-21.00 

Starring
Delbert WilkinsLenny Henry
 
with
WinstonVas Blackwood
RoseEllen Thomas
JulieGina McKee
AlexMichael Mears
WazimNaim Kahn
Sgt. LillieMalcolm Rennie
ClaudetteNimmy March
TrevorTrevor Laird
 
Written byAndrew Nickolds
&Stan Hey
 
Produced & directed byGeoff Posner

The Lenny Henry Christmas Special

A one-off sketches and music special for Xmas 1987

StarringLenny Henry
withRobbie Coltrane
 
Written byLenny Henry
Kim Fuller
Geoff Atkinson
 
Produced & directed byGeoff Posner

The Lenny Henry Show

We can't really show you any wonderful clips of Lenny, as they all belong to the BBC who'd get cross. But have a schmy round YouTube, particularly for the legendary "Thriller" Michael Jackson spoof

This is the official Lenny Henry website

Buy The Best Of The Lenny Henry Show on VHS here

and do have a trawl around for other Lenny tapes and DVDs; we're sure they're out there...


Other shows in GEOFF & DAVID ...