Louis is using the lockdown to track down some high-profile people he’s been longing to talk to – a fascinating mix of the celebrated, the controversial and the mysterious. Louis speaks to Sir Lenworth George Henry, better known as comedian, campaigner and actor Lenny Henry. Lenny discusses racism in the UK, his relationship with his mother and disco ‘snog tracks’.
You are about to listen to a BBC podcast, and I'd like to tell you a bit about what goes into making one.
I'm Siddhartha Sese, an assistant commissioner of podcasts for BBC Sounds.
I pull a lot of levers to support a diverse range of podcasts on all sorts of subjects.
Relationships, identity, comedy, even one that mixes poetry, music and inner city life.
So one day I'll be helping hosts develop their ideas, the next back checking a feature, and the next looking at how a podcast connects with its audience.
And maybe that's you.
So if you like this podcast, check out some others on BBC Sounds.
BBC Sounds Music Radio podcasts.
Hello, and welcome to the Theroux household during lockdown, against a soundtrack of children running wild and parents taking turns to squeeze in work while the other tries to rein them in.
And my work during these strange times is this Grounded with Louis Theroux, a podcast series for BBC Radio 4 in which I talk to people similarly locked down, who I've been keen to meet.
Only now we meet remotely, using video conferencing software and getting our guests to record their half of the conversation.
I'm doing some recording as well.
12 12.
How does it sound to you?
That's Lenny Henry, my guest for today.
Someone I grew up watching on TV and who, way back, I tried to get to appear in one of my documentaries, but perhaps quite rightly, he turned me down.
Not this time, though.
With nowhere else to go, he set his device to record and we began.
Okay, well, let's rock.
How you doing, Lenny?