Lenny Henry on BBC Breakfast

[Itsokay2020]

Did anyone else watch the interview with Lenny Henry on BBC Breakfast this morning? It was meant to be about WBD, but I am appalled at his suggestion that children should join the library, borrow six books and never return them:

www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1741329/Charlie-Stayt-Lenny-Henry-warning-BBC/amp

So tired of this country and its low standards, poor morals and people like this being given a platform to make ridiculous statements like this one from Lenny. AIBU?

Crikey, this has been an eye opener 😂 explains so much, as for the assumptions about my own character 🤣

Still don’t find it funny, still think it’s irresponsible, still think LH could have used his 10 minutes on the BBC sofa to signpost parents to places where they can source affordable books without taking them away from others to enjoy. Guess I am too honest, but then I love books and love others to enjoy them too and therefore would never encourage such selfish behaviour (child or adult).

I’ll also maintain my POV that being a comedian doesn’t give anyone licence to encourage theft under the guise of being funny 🙄

I'll be fuming if Lenny Henry brings society down today; I've got stuff to do this weekend 😤

He's not a government minister, he's not responsible. He's a comedian, doing his job. And if part of his job is to be an ambassador for some kind of literacy scheme, then...job done, because I wasn't aware of it before this thread about his devastating, earth-shaking quip. Well done, OP, for helping Lenny out on this and publicising his good work 👏 I assume you do a lot nationally for children's literacy yourself? More power to your elbow.

It'll be interesting to see the stats on library book theft after today, won't it?

@DominoBlue would you prefer everyone wrote like they’ve got a poker up their arse like you? 😆

And if you want to see who has decimated Britain’s libraries OP, I’d suggest you look at the government that has decimated local authority budgets, not at Lenny’s newly enlisted gangs of library Artful Dodgers.

A sad update, I'm afraid. I just walked past my local library and all of the librarians were crying, shaking, throwing up. Crime Scene Investigators were dishing out crime numbers like sweets. Meanwhile, there was a SWAT team en route to the playground round the corner, tooled up and ready to rumble with the gangs of feral kids trading foxed copies of Diary Of A Wimpy Kid for an eight of Wotsits. Fucking carnage. Curse you, Henry!!

They should get the Detective Dog on the case. Oor Nell has form for saving the day in a similar scenario.

Thing is, OP, libraries need children to come through the doors and register and check out books. So even if Lenny Henry’s (somewhat daft) suggestion resulted in loads of kids pestering their parents to take them to the library and sign up, that would be a win. The librarians would explain the books were indeed ‘free’ but had to be returned, and nothing gets ‘stolen’.

It’s getting kids and their parents through the doors in the first place that’s the issue, not the rates of stolen books.

He's not as funny as he used to be, but he's also a good actor. I liked him where he plays a man with ASD. Also that film where he plays a heroin addict who starts a football team (with Robbie Coltrane)

@KievsOutTheOven Danny Dog from Peppa Pig could crack this case wide open, with the Intel from OP

Slightly off-topic but I don't know why schools don't sign up all reception children to the local library (if lucky enough to have one).

Peppa pig and her cronies are only good for a fry up.

I don’t really think that would help. They’d still need a parent to take them. Unless they do a Matilda of course.

Lenny Henry doesn't get nearly enough love in my view.

His voice work on Big and Small alone should elevate him to national treasure status.

Do you have a Grip Shop nearby OP?

@BitOutOfPractice it's a bit ironic that you attack my writing style on a thread about literacy. You come over as a little insecure. Adult education classes may help.

oh dear @DominoBlue 😬 that’s just a bit, I dunno, embarrassing.

@KievsOutTheOven I dunno, I quite enjoy the work of P Pig et al. The frequency with which she cocks a snook at authority is somewhat refreshing. And George's reliance upon Mr Dinosaur is an apt metaphor for society's dysfunctional relationship with late stage capitalist mores.

You're right. It really is people like Lenny Henry and his questionable morals who've bought the country to its knees

🤣🤣🤣 funniest thing Ive read this weekend .

It was a joke FFS.

Because its not their job?

Parents needs to sign children up - partly because they then act as guarantors and agree to abide by the rules of the library. If a child doesn't return a book, loses it at home or damages it should the school be responsible?

Children going to the library with their families brings reading in to the home which is vital for a child's language development. Schools already do their bit!

people like this

People like what OP?
What could it be about Sir Lenworth Henry that you might have a problem with?
People who found one of the biggest charities in the U.K.?
People who raise awareness of issues and gather support to address them?
No - you don’t have a problem with those kind of people as a group?
Comedians or actors maybe?
What possible group of people could it be that you have a problem with?

I assumed this was a joke thread but I’m confused because half the people who have voted appear to be agreeing with you. Lenny Henry, the comedian, actor and children’s book author has not incited crime. His impact is power and passionate, real impact on equality in the arts and media as well as all his work for charity.

Lenny Henry is not responsible for any decline in morals (if such a thing exists) have you seen the state of our government ministers?)Lenny Henry is not responsible for “low standards” again have you seen the state of our government ministers.