After watching last night's episode of Extras it seems that I am not alone in my dislike for Lenny's wit.

I'm nearly 31, I remember that as a kid I genuinely thought Lenny was funny (or I think I did).

Trouble is,
a) I cant remember how old I was when he was on prime time TV
b) nor can I remember the age when I realised he is as funny as a kick in the family jewels.

I remember he made a series about a chef... That is a moment/time I definitely made a conscious decision to dislike him (but I'm not sure if I'd stopped watching him before that).

The other thing clouding my judgement is, I know my dad used to laugh out loud at him.... so maybe this is why I thought he was funny too. Surely as a child, you havent developed tastes in comedy etc.

I'm trying to get hold of my dad to see if he still finds Lenny funny. Or if not, is it because Lenny went sh1te or because tastes change..... i.e. what was funny then is simply not funny now. (would Jimmy Cricket, Stan Boardman, The Grumbleweeds, Cannon & Ball still be considered funny now)?

I found him funny on Tiswas although that wasn't my main reason for watching....

I think he's brilliant although the Comic Relief thing was a bit corny

100% with you on this one Zimmerman.

Thought the guy was brilliant in the 80's but he has turned into one the unfunniest men on telly.

I cringe when he's on these days.

Sally James ?? Two reasons for watching ?? Oh them were the days ............Schoolboys dreams

i've actually seen lenny henry live on stage a couple of times in manchester and let me tell you that he was excellent (really). superb, had me in stiches, a totally different animal to what you see on the box.

i think it's unfair having a pop at henry - he's one of the few genuine guys out there.

Lenny told jokes to white people, we laughed at him because he let us giggle at black people. Few comic-bar Chris Rock-go there.Now hes not funny though.

Having seen Lenny on breakfast TV this morning, making me hide under the duvet, I thought I'd revive this thread.

I just find him so unfunny..... I'd rather watch those women that sit around talking $hite at lunch time (one of the Nolan's I think, and some other old birds).

I find his comedy really dated, he was on the Scott Mills Show on Radio One a couple of weeks ago when I was driving home and it was cringeworthy, listening to him trying to be funny but failing miserably! I felt for him.

He does seem like a really nice, genuine fella and I want to find him funny for that reason, sadly I don't!

I'm sure I've posted somewhere on here about Lenny Henry. He is the unfunniest man on the planet, I cringe at the thought of him dusting off the TV cobwebs and getting his traditional outing on Red Nose Day. It's a cert he'll walk out tonight, wearing a loud suit covered in red noses with they ears, and he'll expect everyone to laught at how funny this is. It's not funny Henry, you've been doing it since the 80s. You and your pals Atkinson, Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith. Unfunny doesn't sum up their collective lack of humour. I think I'll refer to them as a 'silence' - which is defined as a group of over-the-hill, never-been-funny comedians. Yep, a silence of comedians, quite like that.

I'm sure you did.... I think we discussed him following a mention in Extras and that had prompted me to open this little survey.

You are just tooooooo young.

All 4 were very, very funny in their day. 3 of them were in Not The Nine O'Clock News which was particularly excellent.

Smith and Jones when they bother recording anything are still Ok. Atkinson remains a genius although a sullied one now he does the dreadful Mr Bean and stuff like that. Lenny Henry however is a lost cause.

I like it YOD.
you're not just a buffoon with a mullet after all

Surely thats the key phrase here though Murf?

I used 'were' as YODa being young and having little of life's wisdom (ooooh the irony) said they were 'never-been-funny' and I was responding to that.

Never really been a Smith & Jones fan myself but I think that is because I'm a youthful 28! I was a fan of Rowan Atkinson though, I thought Blackadder Goes Forth was genius. Lenny Henry made me laugh when I was a kid, and I think that's about as far as his talent goes, kids find him funny because of his daft suits and silly noises he makes but that's it.

He's like a real life David Brent, trying and failing miserably to be funny.

I had a work thing yesterday, with my manager doing a pep talk kind of thing, a real "GO USA" kind of shin dig.
Watching her trying to be amusing and inspiring was like watching Lenny. If I could have hidden under the desk I would have.

Sympathy is a completely different emotion humour (is humour even an emotion)?

I take back what I said about Atkinson - I accept Blackadder was great, but I think my opinion's been swayed by watching a clip from the new Bean movie. Truly awful.

By the way, how many of the 'silence' do you think will feature tonight?

I bet the HILARIOUS Dawn French gets rolled out (quite literally).

GOD, imagine being invited to dinner at the "Henry's"?
"Thats a nice offer, but I think I may be busy".
"I haven't even told you when it is yet".
"Just F**koff Lenny"!

Lenny Henry and Fearne Cotton kick off the fundraising event with a performance by the Sugababes and Girls Aloud, who have teamed up to create their version of the Run DMC/Aerosmith classic Walk This Way, 2007's official Red Nose Day single. Rowan Atkinson reprises his role as the accident-prone but lovable Mr Bean. Ant and Dec also make an appearance, while Lenny surprises the audience with a specially designed suit courtesy of CBBC show Beat the Boss. 7.30 Paul O'Grady and Kate Thornton take the helm, as the two remaining Fame Academy contestants attempt to follow in the footsteps of reigning champion Edith Bowman. There's also a unique edition of Harry Hill's TV Burp. 8.00 Creature Comforts special from Aardman Animations, and Catherine Tate's character Lauren the Teenager discovers there is a new teacher at her school. 8.30 Russell Brand and Dennis Waterman take part in Little Britain live sketches. Jon Culshaw, Ronni Ancona, Jan Ravens, Phil Cornwell and John Sessions poke fun at the world of celebrity. 9.00 Chris Evans and Davina McCall assume control, before Patrick Kielty and Claudia Winkleman reveal the winner of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy. Dawn French returns as the Vicar of Dibley in a one-off special of Richard Curtis's creation, featuring guests Sting and wife Trudie Styler. 9.30 Mathematicians Carol Vorderman and Johnny Ball appear in Mitchell and Webb's nonsensical game show Numberwang, before Take That perform live in the studio. Peter Kay provides a secret treat. Continues at 10.35pm

Continuing the fundraising event, with Jonathan Ross and Fearne Cotton. Entrepreneur Alan Sugar gathers the Comic Relief Does The Apprentice participants, including Alastair Campbell, Piers Morgan, Ross Kemp, Rupert Everett, Danny Baker, Cheryl Cole, Jo Brand, Maureen Lipman and Trinny Woodall, to reveal how much money they raised and who has been sacked. There are more sketches from Catherine Tate, plus Extras star Ricky Gervais as he's never been seen before. Kate Moss appears alongside Jonathan Ross in more Little Britain Live sketches. 11.30 Graham Norton and Davina McCall take the reins, presenting a performance by the Killers. Sasha Baron Cohen makes a shock return to television screens as Borat. Armando Ianucci quizzes Emma Thompson, Richard Branson and Rob Brydon about the worst moments from Comic Relief over the years. Kate Thornton and Dawn French reveal all in Little Britain Live. Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles and his posse perform the last leg of the Rally-oke tour. 12.30am Russell Brand presides over events as Mitchell and Webb perform their version of Chris de Burgh's classic The Lady in Red. Marc Wootton combines with Aardman Animations for an exclusive comedy treat. Peter Kay, David Baddiel and Jeremy Edwards star in the last Little Britain Live sketch of the night. The Mighty Boosh bring their mad cap antics to the studio, and Tim Westwood appears in an exclusive episode of Pimp My Ride

I thought this was meant to be COMIC Relief? Or is the gag, that we'll be relieved of any chance of comedy moments?

Anyone know where I can get some smack?

At least there is no mention of Smith & Jones!

Can I just defend Catherine Tate. She is very funny and doesn't deserve lumping in with the other humour-free comedians highlighted. Also a tad harsh on Harry Hill. Little Britain maybe should be included as they have lost whatever they had, the christmas specials were appalling.

PS I don't think The Sugarbabes intend to be funny. The Walk This Way travesty would be funny if it wasn't so painful and insulting.

I also find Rowland Rivron (who just appeared on the Red Nose Fame Academy) one of the most unfunny people I have ever seen on TV.

They were funny and groundbreaking when they were fresh. Unfortunately they've all gone very, very stale.
Henry is particularly fetid.

Honourable mention though to Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder - one of the finest comic creations of our time (apart from series 1).

Always amazes me when people criticise series 1. I thought it was great. Even had a brilliant turn by Peter Cook in the first episode and with Brian Blessed at his best, what more could you ask for?

Blackadder Goes Forth was easily my favourite Blackadder series, just brilliant.

Series 2 wins for me (the Elizabethan one)

You mean you dont find the exact same gag, every single week funny? Murf you old fuddy duddy!

You'll be over them moon at the fact that Peter Kay isn't scheduled to come on and say "Garlic Bread" for the 12 millionth time then!!!

David: What sort of gag shall we write today?
Matt: How about one about being fat? Fat people are funny, I'm fat and I'm funny.
D: Great idea Matt, you are so funny. What shall we do for the next sketch?
M: How about one about being gay? Gay people are funny, I'm gay and I'm funny.
D: Great idea Matt, you are so funny. What shall we do for the next sketch?
M: How about one about being fat and gay? Fat, gay people are funny, I'm fat and gay and I'm funny.
D: Great idea Matt, you are so funny

etc etc repeat to fade......

I found Little Britain very funny when it first appeared but like you say it's just the same each week and there is only so long you can laugh at the same stuff, but you defended Catherine Tate earlier and yet exactly the same applies to her!