Lenny Henry stepping down as Comic Relief host after nearly 40 years: ‘Time to hand over the reins’

Lenny Henry reveals he is stepping down as Comic Relief host after nearly 40 yearsSource: BBC Breakfast

Transcript

00:00 I'm not going to be hosting any more Comet Reliefs after this.

00:03 I will make special appearances because I'm a life president.

00:06 I'll be doing fundraising stuff but I just won't be hosting on the night.

00:09 I'll probably still do documentaries and announcements and things

00:13 but this is my last time of hosting the evening.

00:16 I've only ever had one night off and that was when I did Othello at West Yorkshire Playhouse

00:20 but this will be the last time I host because I think it's time to hand on to the new generation.

00:26 There's all these new wonderful comedians on with podcasts and 9 million followers and

00:32 those guys or women should be hosting Comet Relief now so that the young people and the new

00:39 influx of viewers can plug into the next stage of Comet Relief because there will be a next stage

00:45 and because we want to continue tackling issues of poverty and injustice

00:49 and it's time to hand over the reins as it were.