A last HURRAH

SIR LENNY HENRY on his final stint at the helm of the Red Nose Day telethon

- CAREN CLARK

COMIC RELIEF 

FRI, FROM 7PM, BBC1 & BBC2 ENTERTAINMENT 

COMIC RELIEF: A WHOLE LOTTA LENNY

FRI, 10.40PM, BBC1 ENTERTAINMENT

It truly is the end of a TV era this week. After almost four decades as the linchpin of Comic Relief, Sir Lenny Henry is hosting the fundraising extravaganza for the last time.

But the much-loved comedian and actor, who co-founded the charity in 1985 with screenwriter Richard Curtis, is bowing out in style, as he oversees the star-spangled proceedings live from MediaCityUK in Salford alongside Joel Dommett, Davina McCall, Paddy McGuinness, Romesh Ranganathan and David Tennant as well as new Red Nose Day telethon presenting signings Maya Jama and Rosie Ramsey.

The evening will be packed with sketches, music and surprise guests to tickle the nation’s funny bones and raise vital funds for those in need at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, a special tribute, Comic Relief: A Whole Lotta Lenny, will see The One Show’s Alex Jones celebrate the star’s incredible work and look back at some of his finest moments.

Here, Sir Lenny, 65, tells us all about his swansong…

Why have you decided to give up your hosting duties?

It’s time to hand over the reins as there’s an extraordinary new generation of talent and we need to give these people and their audiences access to what Comic Relief can do and show how we can raise money.