University chancellor role for Sir Lenny Henry

SIR Lenny Henry is to become the new Chancellor of Birmingham City University.

Sir Lenny will visit Birmingham City University’s campus today to start preparing for his five-year term in the role.

The star said: “Taking on the role of Chancellor at Birmingham City University is a superb opportunity for me to pursue three passions – Birmingham and the West Midlands, the creative arts and giving life changing opportunities to young people from a wide range of backgrounds.

“Birmingham City University has facilities that rival anything in the television industry, is right in the centre of a city that has changed beyond recognition in recent years and offers the sort of contemporary education I would have killed for when I was a kid.”

Sir Lenny was born in Dudley, near Birmingham, in 1958, shooting to fame in 1975 when his stand-up comic routine won the TV talent show ‘New Faces’.

He went on to become a household name fronting programmes such as ‘Tiswas’ and ‘Three of a Kind’. In 1985 he co-founded Comic Relief, a poverty and social justice charity which has since raised over £1bn to help causes in the UK and around the world.

In recent years Sir Lenny received widespread acclaim for dramatic roles, playing the title role in ‘Othello’ at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, marking his Shakespearean debut in 2009. He was knighted in the Queen’s 2015 Birthday Honours for services to drama and charity.

Professor Cliff Allan, vice-chancellor, Birmingham City University, said: “We are absolutely delighted that one of the country’s most well-known personalities is to be our new Chancellor. He not only encapsulates the University’s commitment to both the arts and widening participation, but he is a strong advocate for Birmingham and the region, including his home town of Dudley.

“Sir Lenny joins at a very exciting time for the University, as we continue to develop facilities that are the envy of other universities and even industry professionals. What I’m most excited by is that Sir Lenny doesn’t want to be a remote ceremonial figure but is determined to play an active role as a hands-on Chancellor. He will have his own office and staff to enable him to be a big part of what we do over the next five years.”

Sir Lenny Henry succeeds the current chancellor, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Ray Hassall.