91Èȱ¬

91Èȱ¬ ONE has commissioned a new documentary series with Lenny Henry in which he will travel across Britain exploring national identity through one of our defining traits - our sense of humour.

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In Lenny's Britain, Lenny will take us to different parts of the country investigating the humour of each area, and meet people from all walks of life to find out what makes the nation laugh, what it tells us about who we are, how Britain has changed, and how that has been reflected in comedy.

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Lenny Henry said: "This is a very exciting project for me, as I'm going to be travelling back to some of the places where I began my career. I shall also be performing new material, and talking to the general public about what makes their particular region funnier than anywhere else.

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"Are Scousers funnier than Cornwellians? Are Glaswegians more capable of raising a chuckle than Brummies - I intend to find out all this and more, and by the end of it - I'm hoping to get a show out of it!"

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Peter Fincham, Controller of 91Èȱ¬ ONE, said: "The British have a great sense of humour and who better to bring it out than Lenny Henry. This series will show a new and different side of Lenny and I'm really excited about it."

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As well as attempting to take the temperature of contemporary British humour, programme-makers are working with Open University academics to explore the many faces of British humour, and the social and historical dynamics that make us all laugh.

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Marie Gillespie, Senior Lecturer in Sociology with the Open University, and chief academic working on the series, said: "We all tell funny stories and jokes but not all of us get a laugh.

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"We'll be analysing the component parts of what it is that makes a story funny. And why some jokes are funny and others, not.

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"Over the coming months, we're asking people from all over the UK to enter the 'Joke Booth' to tell us their favourite funny stories and jokes, and what has made them laugh most recently.

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"We hope this will show how humour functions as a social barometer. We will decipher the social and political climate - the pulse of the nation - to find out what makes us laugh both individually and collectively.

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"Are there themes or jokes that recur? Is there one big joke in Britain today? What does the Big Joke tell us about British identities today?"

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The travelling Joke Booth

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If you want to pop along and record your favourite joke or funny story at the travelling Joke Booth, you can do so at the following venues (please note: children must be accompanied by an adult):

• 21 & 22 August: Exeter Phoenix (arts centre)
• 24 & 25 August: Bluewater Shopping Centre
• 29 & 30 August: Liverpool's St John's Shopping Centre
• 1 & 2 September: Gateshead MetroCentre

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Made by the same 91Èȱ¬ Bristol team behind the critically-acclaimed 91Èȱ¬ FOUR hit series Paul Merton's Silent Clowns, the series will capture Lenny's observations both on the road and form part of stand-up performances for each film.

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Lenny Henry gigs that will be filmed for the series:

• Blackpool - 30 November
• Wolverhampton - 15 January
• Swansea - 18 January
• Glasgow - 21 January

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Kate Broome, Series Producer and Director, said: "The combination of Lenny's unique talent and his genuine passion for this series gives us the opportunity to create some truly fresh and distinctive films.

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"All the documentaries aim to be hugely entertaining whilst at the same time offering us the opportunity to learn something along the way."

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Notes to Editors

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Lenny's Britain is a 91Èȱ¬ co-commission with the Open University

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SB

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