The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced that Lenny Henry, one of Britain’s leading comedians and writers, will be honoured with the Special Award at the House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall, London on Sunday 8 May.

The 2016 Special Award is named in honour of the late TV Director Alan Clarke, and will be presented to Lenny Henry in recognition of his creative contribution to television.

The Alan Clarke award was last presented in 2015 to television producer and writer Jeff Pope. Previous recipients include television executive Jane Tranter (2009), documentary-maker Paul Watson (2008), producer Andy Harries (2007), documentarian Adam Curtis (2006) and director and screenwriter Paul Greengrass (2005).

Previous BAFTA recognition of Henry’s work includes two television nominations for the Lenny Henry Show, in both the Light Entertainment Performance and Light Entertainment Programme category in 1985 and 1989 respectively.

He has also previously won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Comedy Awards in 2003, and more recently the Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor in 2014 as well as being awarded the Royal Television Society Fellowship in March this year.

The House of Fraser British Academy Television Awards will be hosted by Graham Norton at the Royal Festival Hall, London and broadcast on BBC One on Sunday 8 May at 20.00.

Photo courtesy: BAFTA