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Lenny Henry told he was 'fat' and put on 'Disney diet' in the US

The star said he was actually in 'the best shape I was ever going to be in' at the time

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 14: Sir Lenny Henry during the 2023 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at The Royal Festival Hall on May 14, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Sir Lenny Henry said he was put on a 'Disney diet'. (Getty Images)

Sir Lenny Henry has revealed that he was put on a “Disney diet” when he went to the US.

The comedian and TV star said when he headed across the pond earlier in his career he was told that he was overweight and given an eating plan to help him slim down.

Opening up on This Morning, he said: "When I was in America I felt very out of control and there was sort of a bit bullying.

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"I arrived in the best shape I was ever going to be in and they said I was fat.

"They gave me the Disney diet which was basically, you can eat air."

London, UK. 6th November, 2018. Sir Lenny Henry is interviewed before delivering a letter to 10 Downing Street calling for tax breaks to increase the representation of women, BAME and disabled people working behind the camera in the film and television industry with Adrian Lester OBE, Meera Syal CBE,  Ade Adepitan, Nadine ME and Marcus Ryder. Credit: Mark Kerrison/Alamy Live News
Sir Lenny Henry was told he was overweight. (Alamy Live News)

"There was a whole list of things that you couldn’t eat and on the other side if just said air, water, good luck," he said.

Henry said he felt “so sorry” for one of his co-stars who was eating a rice cake and having a sip of water every 30 minutes.

“And I just thought, this is horrible,” he told hosts Alison Hammond and Craig Doyle.

The TV star, 64, was on the ITV show to talk about his memoir Rising To The Surface, which charts his life and career.

He told the hosts penning the book had been an "interesting" process.

Lenny Henry talks about My Name is Leon at the 35th Hay Festival.
Sir Lenny Henry said it was 'horrible'. (PA Images/Alamy)

“I did find myself getting quite emotional about it, because it was a big wallop of my career,” he said.

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“It was a lot to remember and a lot to reflect on, mistakes made and some triumphs so, it's all in there.”

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