LENNY Henry is many things. As well as being one of the UK’s best-loved comedians, he’s a writer, radio DJ, TV presenter, co-founder of Comic Relief and award-winning actor.

His TV dramas include Broadchurch, Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle, The Syndicate and Hope and Glory, and on stage he played Othello with Northern Broadsides, and has been in other plays such as Educating Rita and King Hedley II. Lenny also has a PhD in Media Arts and in 2015 he was awarded a knighthood for services to charity and drama.

Now he’s returning to his first love: live performance, touring the UK with his new show, An Evening with Lenny Henry - Who Am I, Again?

Following the publication of his memoir, which has the same title, the show sees Lenny telling stories from his life. In the first half, he delivers a series of anecdotes, both funny and poignant, triggered by writing his book. He recollects growing up in the Black Country, puberty, school, friendship, family secrets and racism. He remembers how, with his mother’s mantra of “H’integration” ringing in his ears, he did his best to overcome those obstacles and make his way in the world.

Lenny, 61, also recounts stories of his career. After he got his break in 1975 as the 16-year-old winner of New Faces, he enjoyed success on TV’s Tiswas, Three of a Kind and The Lenny Henry Show. Despite his popularity, however, Lenny couldn’t help wondering at every stage: Am I good enough? Is this what they want?

In the second half of his live show Lenny will be interviewed by friend, broadcaster and author Jon Canter. “Live performance is just the best,” says Lenny. “Films and telly are extra, but live is you unfiltered. It’s just you stood there talking to an audience.”

He recalls the greatest live show he ever saw. “What Morecambe and Wise did in front of a live audience was very different to what they did on telly. Their TV show was brilliant, but Eric was probably 20 times funnier on stage. I worked with him in Bournemouth in 1979, it was one of the most extraordinary live experiences I have ever had. It was so funny and loose.

“I try to get to the same space when I perform live, create real sense that this is unmediated and unmitigated. I attempt to communicate to the audience that ‘We’re gonna have a great time for the next 90 minutes, then we’re all off home! HOORAY!’

“What is lovely is that my audience has grown with me over the years, they get me - and what I’m trying to do. I really cherish that.”

He’s quick to point out that this show is far from a conventional book tour. “There is a weight of expectation about a book tour, and people would be severely disappointed if a comedian started to navel gaze and talk about how his parents beat him as a child. People aren’t going to get therapy on stage from me. They will get stories, character stuff and songs.”

Looking back on his early years in the business, Lenny sees how valuable they were in forming him as a comic.

“If you write a book about your early years, there is a palpable sense that the past is another country and that you’re looking at yourself from 1,000 miles away,” he says. “This kind of reflection can make you realise why you are the way you are. I’ve noticed that I now stick up for myself and want to be an integral part of the creative process, which all stems from the experience of my first 10 years in the business.”

He adds: “I hope people enjoy their evening out with me, but I also want them to feel at the end that they’ve learned something about who I am and how I got there. This is a Len they’ve never met before. The show is going to be loose, fun, insightful, and revelatory.”

There is something else he hopes audiences will take away from An Evening with Lenny Henry - Who Am I, Again?

“A book!” he smiles.

l Lenny Henry is at St George’s Hall on Tuesday, November 5. Call (01274) 432000.