Lenny Henry

Dawn French on life after Lenny Henry

"Optimism and ­cheerfulness are a massive gift that many people don't have. I remarried and I married a very cheerful man, and I've come to realise just how ­important cheerfulness is - it's a wonderful thing."

Although most of Victoria Wood's work since 1985 had been for the BBC - including her sketch series As Seen on TV and the sitcom dinnerladies - she fell out with the corporation in 2009 when her seasonal specal, All the Trimmings, commissioned for Christmas Day, was dumped in a lesser slot without consultation.

Possibly because of this, only ITV was able to gain access to the writer-comedian's closest colleagues - including Julie Walters, Duncan Preston and Celia Imrie - for Let's Do It: A Tribute to Victoria Wood. There was also a suspicion that, in relation, the BBC might have been mean about releasing clips: there was so little material from dinnerladies and As Seen on TV that the opening titles had to be used as illustration.

Despite smart use of DVDs of stage shows and clps from a 1996 South Bank Show, the talking heads between the extracts adopted the now standard TV obit-show tone of rave about the person in the grave. James Corden explained that "she just made a lot of people laugh". Sir Lenny Henry averred that "she was just brilliant", while Jim Broadbent siad: "You just think, God, what a special person!'"

Attention was rightly paid to Wood's epic comic song, The Ballard of Barry and Freda. But, rather than reference to its double internal rhymes or climactic triple rhymes or the comic effect of domestic detail (lagging, grouting, flameproof nightie), we got a string of celebs calling the song "brilliant" and David Threlfall[/o] declaring: "Is there no end to this woman's talent?" Well, sadly, Dave, yes, there was, which is why an ITV crew is in your dressing room.

Lenny Henry joining Broadchurch cast

Sir Lenny Henry is joining the cast of Broadchurch, it has been announced.

Lenny Henry's Rogues Gallery preview

There's more than a whiff of Tales Of The Unexpected about Lenny Henry's new radio series - and as a child of the 1980s, I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way.

BBC is 'very, very white', says Lenny Henry

Veteran comedian says corporation is an 'oppressive institution', also claiming Will Smith has stopped 'being black'.

Lenny Henry: my three-point plan for BBC reform

While I don't want politicians meddling with the BBC, I do want change within the corporation to better reflect the diversity of 21st-century Britain.

Lenny Henry on his music career

The comedian turned singer Lenny Henry on police racism, finding humour in the blues and what he learned from his hero, Prince.

Sir Lenny Henry: Comedian, campaigner... blues singer?

Sir Lenny Henry recently turned his talents to singing the blues - arguably a surprising move for a comedian. But, as he tells the BBC, there's more to the blues than singing about being miserable.

Lenny Henry makes viewers squirm as he sings the blues

Comedy legend Sir Lenny Henry has turned his hand to singing - and the Twitterati don't seem impressed.