Based on his early life

Lenny Henry is writing his memoirs, entitled Who Am I Again?

Publisher Faber has bought  the rights to the book, which is described as a ‘heartfelt and hilarious’ portrait of his early years that touches on migration, race, home and family.

 Henry said: ‘I’m so happy to have landed at Faber & Faber. These people know a thing or two about nurturing authors and I am delighted to be working with them. Hoorah! Break out the rice, peas and chicken, and Guinness punch. It’s kicking off.'

The story of his  teenage years growing up in a Jamaican family in 1970s Dudley previously formed the basis of the one-off BBC drama Danny And The Human Zoo.

Faber’s chief executive Stephen Page added:  ‘At Faber we’re always on the look out for writers with a singular view or experience that can be expressed in a distinctive voice on the page. This is so clearly the case with Lenny Henry. We’re both proud and hugely ambitious about publishing his memoir.’

The memoirs are due to be published in autumn 2018.

Published: 12 Oct 2017