Lenny Henry empathises with Othello

Lenny Henry has said that he empathises with Shakespeare's Othello, who he will play on the UK stage this spring.

The actor and comedian told The Daily Telegraph that he felt a connection to the character as he too had to learn to deal with racism when he was younger.

Henry said: "I could have a fight every day because of being called wog, nig-nog, blackie, sooty, coon. I had to learn other ways to cope, otherwise I just wouldn't have got through school.

"Having grown up with that I understand how Othello would feel. This stuff bounces off him. He's used to it.

"Also having usually been the only black person, which was my life for at least 15 years of my career, I really empathise with Othello's isolation."

He added that his first play is a big learning curve and he is aware that the knives will be out regarding his performance.

Last year, Henry argued that a plan was needed to boost the number of people from ethnic minorities in the television industry.