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Lenny Henry talks writing for kids on World Book Day!

Lenny Henry discusses writing for children on World Book Day, and there's a 'book-ish' theme in the latest dive into Vernon's Vault after 10. Plus more Ten To The Top at 1030.

Sir Lenny Henry - comedian, actor, author, pioneer, activist - discusses writing for children on World Book Day.

First shooting to fame on the TV show 'New Faces' when he was just 16, Lenny rose from being a cult star on children's TV to one of Britain's best-known and most-celebrated comedians. He's also variously been a writer, a Radio 1 DJ, a TV presenter, an award-winning actor on stage and screen and the co-founder of Comic Relief.

Lenny's most recent TV appearance was on the hit Netflix show 'Missing You', based on the multi-million selling book by Harlan Coben.

A passionate champion of World Book Day, Lenny has now written six children's books, starting with The Boy With Wings in 2021, and releasing 'Tyrone's Cool Crown' most recently. When asked why he had wanted to write for children, he said: "Children of every age need to see themselves in the stories they love".

One of Lenny's previous works 'Book Of Legends' was dedicated to staff at a library who inspired him to become an author. Lenny was enrolled at Dudley library as a boy by his Aunty Pearl, where he became a voracious reader.

Plus there's the mid-morning music quiz Ten To The Top; a 'book-themed' dip into the 蜜芽传媒 Archive in Vernon's Vault, and Record and Album Of The Week.

Whatever you're up to, Vern wants to hear from you - email vernon@bbc.co.uk - and if you鈥檇 like to apply to take part in Ten To The Top, the address you need is tentothetop@bbc.co.uk

To listen on most smart speakers just say, "Ask 蜜芽传媒 Sounds to play Vernon Kay.鈥�

2 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Thu 6 Mar 2025 09:30
蜜芽传媒 Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Talking Heads

    Road To Nowhere

    • Now 1985 - The Millennium Series.
    • Now.

  • Ricky Martin

    She Bangs

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.

  • Teddy Swims

    Guilty

    • I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2).
    • Atlantic.

  • The Police

    Message In A Bottle

    • The Very Best Of Sting & The Police.
    • A&M.

  • Lainey Wilson

    Whirlwind

    • Whirlwind.
    • Broken Bow.

  • Baby D

    Let Me Be Your Fantasy

    • (CD Single).
    • Production House.

  • Olivia Dean

    It Isn't Perfect, But It Might Be

    • Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy O.S.T. (Various Artists).
    • Capitol.

  • Roy Ayers

    Everybody Loves The Sunshine

    • A Shining Symbol The Ultimate Collection.
    • Polydor.

  • The Housemartins

    Five Get Over Excited

    • The Housemartins - The Best Of.
    • Go Discs.

  • Benson Boone

    Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Records.

  • The Turtles

    Happy Together

    • Heartbeat - The 60's Gold Collection.
    • Global Television.

  • Matthew Wilder

    Break My Stride

    • NOW That's What I Call Pop Gold (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Lola Young

    Messy

    • This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway.
    • Island.

  • Destiny鈥檚 Child

    Survivor

    • Now 49 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • The Temptations

    Ain't Too Proud To Beg

    • The Temptations - The Ultimate Collec.
    • Motown.

  • Madonna

    Dress You Up

    • Like A Virgin.
    • Sire.
    • 1.

  • Elton John & Brandi Carlile

    Who Believes In Angels?

    • Who Believes In Angels?.
    • EMI.

  • M People

    Sight For Sore Eyes

    • The Best Of M People.
    • BMG.

  • Inhaler

    Still Young

    • Open Wide.
    • Polydor Records.
    • 9.

  • Mike Oldfield

    Moonlight Shadow

    • Now 1983 - The Millennium Series.
    • EMI.
    • 13.

  • Rachel Chinouriri

    All I Ever Asked

    • What A Devastating Turn Of Events.
    • Parlophone.

  • Junior

    Mama Used To Say

    • And They Danced The Night Away.
    • Debutante.

  • Parliament

    Flashlight

    • Single.
    • Casablanca.
    • 1.

  • Franz Ferdinand

    Take Me Out (Radio 2 Piano Room, 24 Feb 2025)

Broadcast

  • Thu 6 Mar 2025 09:30
    蜜芽传媒 Radio 2

Ten To The Top

Ten To The Top

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