Lenny Henry has confirmed he is to receive a knighthood.
The 56-year-old comedian is to be knighted in the Queen’s birthday honours list, which will officially be announced this Friday (12.06.15), and he admits he’s very "chuffed" to be recognised for his career and involvement with the Comc Relief charity, which he co-founded with scriptwriter Richard Curtis in 1985.
In an interview with BBC Radio 2, he said: "I’m very chuffed. It’s not something you think about really when you grow up in Dudley. But it’s a fantastic thing."
Lenny also revealed his family have been constantly quizzing him about the honour since he found out and are keen to know if he will be bequeathed a castle by the British monarch.
He added: "I’m being pummelled from all sides by my family, saying, ‘Do we get some land? Do we get a castle now? Do we get 100 men in plate armour following us around Dudley?’
"I’m very pleased. And my mum would have loved it. It is a wonderful thing and my family are really, really chuffed. My friends have not stopped ringing up and saying congratulations. It is an extraordinary thing."
Lenny’s knighthood coincides with the 30-year anniversary of Comic Relief.
The charity revealed earlier this year that it had raised a total of £1 billion during over the last three decades with the money funding almost 16,000 projects in the UK and 70 abroad.
Lenny – whose ex-wife is Dawn French – was previously awarded the CBE in 1999.
Lenny Henry confirms knighthood
