Lenny Henry and Dawn French go separate ways after 25 years as a loving double act
Chris Smyth and Jack Malvern
Their relationship survived racism, a long and painful struggle to conceive a child and accusations of infidelity as they helped each other through the inevitable ups and downs of two professional comedy careers. But yesterday, Lenny Henry and Dawn French announced their separation after 25 years of marriage, bringing to an end one of the most prominent partnerships in showbusiness.
The split was described as “entirely amicable” by the couple’s spokesman. “They made the decision last October and since then have been living together in constant, open and honest discussion,” he said in a statement.“They fully intend to maintain their close friendship. Their priority is to commit to the future joint parenting of their daughter.”
Henry, 51, who suffered a breakdown a decade ago after accusations of an affair with an Australian woman, and French, 52, first met at the Comedy Store in London. French was performing with Jennifer Saunders, her comedy partner. Henry, then 23, was already a successful television performer on shows such as Tiswas, having been discovered on the talent show New Faces when he was 17.
Impressed by her performance, Henry asked French to write for his act but she refused, saying later that she found him “loud and revolting”. They got on better when they met again a few months later and were married at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden in October 1984.
“I took a stand for a long time. I decided to stand firm,” French said in 1993. “I used to dig my heels and tell myself ‘I will deal with this, it’s not going to worry me’.”
In her autobiography, French described the “heartbreaking” trials of IVF as the couple repeatedly failed to conceive a child. Eventually, in 1991, they adopted a daughter, Billie, now 18.
French, who made herself into a cheerleader for larger women, boasted that her husband was attracted only to “big women”.
In 1999 it was alleged that he had strayed while he was on tour. He was reported to have spent the night with Merri Cheyne, a 26-year-old Australian receptionist, at a hotel in York. It was also reported that he had pestered lap dancers while working for the BBC in Tenerife.
Henry, who denied that he had an affair, admitted himself to the Priory, a private clinic, to treat his stress. He said that he had suffered a “classic mid-life crisis” after turning 40 and losing his mother a year earlier.
French dismissed the episode as a “little thing” at the time. “What he needed to do was have a good cry and go away fishing for a few days but he couldn’t because he had work commitments. He was very over-stressed,” she said.
“We’re all going to get married and a bit unmarried sometimes, and then married again. Everyone’s going to have a bit of a rough ride and just because you’re in the public eye doesn’t mean that it’s any different.”
They took six months off, including a trip to New Zealand, to allow themselves time to rebuild the relationship.
Two years ago Alison Bowyer, French’s biographer, said: “I can attest that the fallout of what happened in those dark days has never truly left her. But with their relationship staring over the precipice, it was Dawn who decided it was worth saving.”
French spoke publicly in 2007 about the strength of their relationship.
“I’m constantly reminded of how much in love with him I am,” she said. “I have little moments, perhaps, when I’m not noticing it. Then I might drive away, and I do have the aching feeling of missing him that reminds me of what we have.”
The couple, thought to be worth about £10 million, lived in a £2.5 million Queen Anne farmhouse in Berkshire. They also shared a flat in London, as well as a £2.4 million house in Cornwall.
Although French’s career was for a time eclipsed by Saunders’s success in Absolutely Fabulous, her role as the Rev Geraldine Granger in the BBC sitcom The Vicar Of Dibley re-established her as a favourite. The show attracted more than 12 million viewers when it ended in 2007.
Henry’s comedy career has not met with recent critical success, but he has reinvented himself as a Shakespearean actor, winning a best newcomer award last year for his performance as Othello.
Chris Smyth and Jack Malvern
Their relationship survived racism, a long and painful struggle to conceive a child and accusations of infidelity as they helped each other through the inevitable ups and downs of two professional comedy careers. But yesterday, Lenny Henry and Dawn French announced their separation after 25 years of marriage, bringing to an end one of the most prominent partnerships in showbusiness.
The split was described as “entirely amicable” by the couple’s spokesman. “They made the decision last October and since then have been living together in constant, open and honest discussion,” he said in a statement.“They fully intend to maintain their close friendship. Their priority is to commit to the future joint parenting of their daughter.”
Henry, 51, who suffered a breakdown a decade ago after accusations of an affair with an Australian woman, and French, 52, first met at the Comedy Store in London. French was performing with Jennifer Saunders, her comedy partner. Henry, then 23, was already a successful television performer on shows such as Tiswas, having been discovered on the talent show New Faces when he was 17.
Impressed by her performance, Henry asked French to write for his act but she refused, saying later that she found him “loud and revolting”. They got on better when they met again a few months later and were married at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden in October 1984.
“I took a stand for a long time. I decided to stand firm,” French said in 1993. “I used to dig my heels and tell myself ‘I will deal with this, it’s not going to worry me’.”
In her autobiography, French described the “heartbreaking” trials of IVF as the couple repeatedly failed to conceive a child. Eventually, in 1991, they adopted a daughter, Billie, now 18.
French, who made herself into a cheerleader for larger women, boasted that her husband was attracted only to “big women”.
In 1999 it was alleged that he had strayed while he was on tour. He was reported to have spent the night with Merri Cheyne, a 26-year-old Australian receptionist, at a hotel in York. It was also reported that he had pestered lap dancers while working for the BBC in Tenerife.
Henry, who denied that he had an affair, admitted himself to the Priory, a private clinic, to treat his stress. He said that he had suffered a “classic mid-life crisis” after turning 40 and losing his mother a year earlier.
French dismissed the episode as a “little thing” at the time. “What he needed to do was have a good cry and go away fishing for a few days but he couldn’t because he had work commitments. He was very over-stressed,” she said.
“We’re all going to get married and a bit unmarried sometimes, and then married again. Everyone’s going to have a bit of a rough ride and just because you’re in the public eye doesn’t mean that it’s any different.”
They took six months off, including a trip to New Zealand, to allow themselves time to rebuild the relationship.
Two years ago Alison Bowyer, French’s biographer, said: “I can attest that the fallout of what happened in those dark days has never truly left her. But with their relationship staring over the precipice, it was Dawn who decided it was worth saving.”
French spoke publicly in 2007 about the strength of their relationship.
“I’m constantly reminded of how much in love with him I am,” she said. “I have little moments, perhaps, when I’m not noticing it. Then I might drive away, and I do have the aching feeling of missing him that reminds me of what we have.”
The couple, thought to be worth about £10 million, lived in a £2.5 million Queen Anne farmhouse in Berkshire. They also shared a flat in London, as well as a £2.4 million house in Cornwall.
Although French’s career was for a time eclipsed by Saunders’s success in Absolutely Fabulous, her role as the Rev Geraldine Granger in the BBC sitcom The Vicar Of Dibley re-established her as a favourite. The show attracted more than 12 million viewers when it ended in 2007.
Henry’s comedy career has not met with recent critical success, but he has reinvented himself as a Shakespearean actor, winning a best newcomer award last year for his performance as Othello.
