Sir Lenny: Slavery is big stone on my heart

SIR Lenny Henry said yesterday he would not be here without the Commonwealth.

The veteran comedian became emotional in a television interview as he described how he had confronted a number of issues, including slavery, for a new BBC documentary – Lenny Henry: The Commonwealth Kid.

In the programme the 59-year-old star visits Jamaica, the home of his ancestors.

He said: “I’m delighted and excited to revisit where my parents grew up and explore things I don’t know about Jamaica and the Bahamas, especially in the context of the Commonwealth.”

However, speaking ahead of the screening, Sir Lenny told Good Morning Britain that the issue of slavery was “like a big stone on my heart” as he visited a rum plantation, where 400 slaves once worked.

“To walk up these steps to see where all these people used to work – these are my ancestors,” he said.

“So to be in this place where this stuff used to happen is a Sir Lenny Henry... appeal to celebrate the Commonwealth shock. I couldn’t wait to get out of there.” He also visited the land where his mother once lived. “I expected there to be a house – I didn’t expect there to be a ruin,” he said. “My mum used to walk miles and miles with water and laundry. “She was a subsistence farmer with my dad – and it was a punishing, gruelling existence.” But he added: “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the Commonwealth. “Let’s celebrate it. Also I’m a knight of the realm – I was assaulted by an old lady with a sword.” Sir Lenny was born in Dudley, West Midlands, one of seven children of Jamaican immigrants. His family came to England as part of the post-Windrush generation in 1957. The hour-long documentary examines the deep-rooted relationship between the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and its 2.3 billion people. Lenny Henry: The Commonwealth Kid will be screened on BBC One at 9pm on Easter Monday.