TOP comedian Lenny Henry is to perform new material exclusively in Worcester.

The Dudley-born entertainer - famed for his work with Comic Relief - will be on stage at Worcester's Swan Theatre on Tuesday, May 27, and Wednesday, May 28, after Worcester Live won its bid to secure the star for this stand-up show.

Henry, who is married to comedienne Dawn French, will visit the city prior to his Where You From tour of Australia.

Worcester audiences will be the first people to hear his new material.

Chris Jaeger, director of Worcester Live, said: "It's fantastic for us to be able to give the people of Worcester such top-class entertainment - it's going to be a great show.

"We expect it to sell out at lightning speed, so people will need to be quick off the mark to get their tickets."

Henry made his triumphant television debut in 1975 when he won the New Faces talent competition at the tender age of 16.

He has risen to become one of Britain's best-known personalities, much-loved as a comedian, impressionist, singer and serious actor.

He co-hosted popular children's programme Tiswas at the end of the 70s, starred in 1990s television series Chef!, took on a straight role as a head teacher in Hope and Glory and is now presenting lennyhenry.tv on BBC One.

Some of his best known comedy characters include the Barry White-like Theophilus P Wildebeeste and Trevor MacDoughnut, a parody of newsreader Trevor McDonald.

He is heavily involved in the charity organisation Comic Relief, often hosting the Red Nose Day show on BBC and filming reports overseas.

For tickets to see Lenny Henry, priced £19.50, call Worcester Live on 01905 611427, visit www.worcesterlive.co.uk or go to the box office at Huntingdon Hall, Crown Gate, Worcester.