Lenny Henry relives Open University days for TV documentary

Jun 11 2009 by Vicky Farncombe, Birmingham Post

Lenny Henry will be revisiting his student days for a new BBC Four documentary which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Open University.

The Birmingham comic credits his six years studying for a BA in English Literature from OU with his new-found career as a Shakespearean actor.

“When I was at the Bluecoats Secondary Modern, Shakespeare wasn’t on the cards for me. We were working-class kids. Our dads worked in factories, or on building sites,” said Lenny.

“And even when we were given Romeo and Juliet we thought it was a bit silly, the language was a bit archaic, and we thought ‘what is this?’ ”

“When I started doing my degree we did a bit of Shakespeare every year and then one year we did all Shakespeare. I really immersed myself in it. I studied Twelfth Night, Anthony and Cleopatra, Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear and Hamlet.

“And because I was listening to a play a day, and watching as many videos as I could get my hands on, I got a really good sense of the language and I stopped being scared of it.

“Before this, I was in my comfort zone. But now I have broken through that, it feels wonderful. So hats off to the OU.”

Contributors to Happy Birthday To OU , being made by BBC Birmingham, include David Attenborough, who was controller of BBC2 when the OU launched; David Puttnam, the chancellor of the OU; and Myleene Klass, who studied astrophysics at the OU.