Lenny Henry mentored by Doctor Who's Russell T Davies on new show

Lenny Henry has spoken about how he was mentored by Doctor Who’s Russell T Davies during the writing process of his new show, Three Little Birds.

Speaking to publication Digital Spy at this year’s National TV Awards, he opened up about his new show as well as diversity in the media.

"I think I wanted to be part of something that honoured the people that came to Britain in the 50s. My mum was one of those people and she inspired me to write Three Little Birds, which is going to be on next year," he said.

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The drama will tell the stories of three fictional Caribbean women as they board a cruise ship heading for a new life in Great Britain.

"Russell T Davies mentored me through the writing process, and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been helping me get this together," he continued.

"Hopefully you’ll enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed it."

He also spoke about what he thinks has changed in terms of diversity and inclusion in the media over the years and what he thinks still needs to be done.

"I think the optics have changed in television in the last five or six years. We’re seeing more Black people on TV going 'Guv! I think she's dead, Guv!' There's a lot of that going on. But there’s nobody behind the scenes making the programmes as far as I can see. There’s a few execs now," he said.

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"But to have people that aren't security guys and women in the canteen actually making decisions about what is going to be greenlit and commissioned is wonderful and we need to push for that."

"If you can’t see it, you can’t be it. So when you go up to a meeting and you're the only Black person there, or the only woman or the only gay person, it can affect you," he added.