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Lynette Linton, Cole Martin, sir Lenny Henry and Kit de Wall on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview

Sir Lenny Henry joins stars behind drama ‘My Name is Leon’ ahead of BBC television premiere

Staff Reporter010 mins

Ahead of the film adaptation of bestselling book ‘My Name Is Leon‘ coming to BBC Two this Friday, actor and executive producer Sir Lenny Henry joined the Birmingham writer behind the story, Kit de Waal, and the programme’s young star Cole Martin on the red carpet last night.

They appeared along with the film’s director Lynette Linton at the IET Austin Court in central Birmingham where they shared exclusive clips of the programme and talked about filming it in the city, in an evening chaired by BBC Radio WM presenter Nikki Tapper.

Lynette Linton and Cole Martin on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview screening
[/media-credit] Lynette Linton and Cole Martin on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview screening

The film is Shola Amoo’s first screenplay for television, with 9-year-old Cole Martin playing the lead, Leon, in his first TV role.

The entire production was filmed in and around Birmingham, including spots like Cannon Hill Park, Moor Green Lane Allotments, and the Jewellery Quarter.

Sir Lenny Henry said: “One of the best things about being involved in the TV adaptation of My Name Is Leon is that I’m from Dudley in the Black Country and the story is set in eighties Birmingham. We shot the film in Moseley and it was great to be in and around the familiar-sounding voices of home.”

“It takes a lot to get a small film made in Birmingham on our screens these days – but it was worth it in my eyes. My Name Is Leon is a great novel, full of moving and laugh-out-loud moments. I hope everyone enjoys it. We made it in the Midlands and it’s Bostin’.”

The adaptation of Kit de Waal's novel is set against the backdrop of the race riots in the city during the 1980s and tells the story of nine-year-old Leon
[/media-credit] The adaptation of Kit de Waal’s novel is set against the backdrop of the race riots in the city during the 1980s and tells the story of nine-year-old Leon
Sir Lenny Henry speaks to Salman Mirza about 'My Name is Leon'
[/media-credit] Sir Lenny Henry speaks to Salman Mirza about ‘My Name is Leon’

My Name is Leon stars Malachi Kirby, Monica Dolan, Olivia Williams, Christopher Eccleston, Poppy Lee Friar, Shobna Gulati, and Sir Lenny Henry CBE.

The film is set in 1980s Birmingham against the backdrop of the race riots and tells the uplifting and moving story of nine-year-old Leon – a mixed-race boy with a quest to reunite his family after being taken into care and separated from his blonde and blue-eyed baby brother.

Stuart Thomas, Head of the Midlands for BBC England, said: “We are delighted to bring this story to our local audiences – amid the heart-warming storyline, the film depicts the reality of life in Birmingham in the eighties whilst also showing off this wonderful city.”

IN PICTURES: ‘My Name Is Leon’ red carpet preview event

#1  Cole Martin

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Cole Martin on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#2  Sir Lenny Henry

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview event[/media-credit]

#3  Kit de Waal 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Kit de Waal on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#4  Lynette Linton and Cole Martin

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Lynette Linton and Cole Martin on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview screening [/media-credit]

#5  Lynette Linton

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Lynette Linton on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#6  Kit de Waal and Cole Martin 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Cole Martin and Kit de Wall on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#7  Lynette Linton and Kit de Waal

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Lynette Linton and Kit de Wall on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#8  Kit de Waal and Lenny Henry

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry and Kit de Wall on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#9  Cole Martin and Sir Lenny Henry

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Cole Martin and Sir Lenny Henry on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#10  Lynette Linton, Cole Martin, Lenny Henry and Kit de Waal 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Lynette Linton, Cole Martin, sir Lenny Henry and Kit de Wall on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#11  Visual artist Amrit Singh

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Visual artist Amrit Singh attending My Name is Leon preview event [/media-credit]

#12  Guests queue for ‘My Name Is Leon’

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Guests queue for the BBC 'My Name is Leon' preview event[/media-credit]

#13  Guests queue for ‘My Name Is Leon’

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Guests queue at Austin Court in Birmingham for the BBC 'My Name is Leon' preview event[/media-credit]

#14  ‘My Name Is Leon’ discussion panel 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Discussion panel at the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' preview event[/media-credit]

#15  Kit de Waal 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Kit de Waal during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel [/media-credit]

#16  Sir Lenny Henry 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel [/media-credit]

#17  Martin Cole with his parents 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Young actor Cole Martin in the audience for 'My Name Is Cole' with his parents [/media-credit]

#18  Nikki Tapper hosts the panel discussion 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Nikki Tapper hosts the panel discussion for BBC drama 'My Name Is Leon'[/media-credit]

#19  Stuart Thomas, Head of the Midlands for BBC England

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Stuart Thomas, Head of the Midlands for BBC England[/media-credit]

#20  Lynette Linton and Kit de Waal 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Lynette Linton and Kit de Waal at the 'My Name Is Leon' BBC preview event in Birmingham [/media-credit]

#21  Sir Lenny Henry 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel [/media-credit]

#22  Sir Lenny Henry 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel [/media-credit]

#23  Director Lynette Linton 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Direcotr Lynette Linton during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel [/media-credit]

#24  Nikki Tapper 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Nikki Tapper chairs the panel discussion for BBC drama 'My Name Is Leon'[/media-credit]

#25  Lenny Henry speaks to Nikki Tapper 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry in conversation with Nikki Tapper at the 'My Name Is Leon' BBC preview event in Birmingham [/media-credit]

#26  Lenny Henry speaks to Salman Mirza

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry speaks to Salman Mirza about 'My Name is Leon' [/media-credit]

#27  Sir Lenny Henry 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel [/media-credit]

#28  Sir Lenny Henry 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel [/media-credit]

#29  Young actor Cole Martin 

[media-credit name=”Lensi Photography ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Cole Martin on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview[/media-credit]

#29  Kit de Waal, Lynette Linton and Salman Mirza

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Reporter Salman Mirza with Kit de Waal and Lynette Linton at the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' preview event in Birmingham [/media-credit]

#30  Lenny Henry and Salman Mirza 

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Reporter Salman Mirza with Sir Lenny Henry at the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' preview event in Birmingham [/media-credit]

#31  Audience members enjoy the panel discussion

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Audience members enjoying a panel discussion with Sir Lenny Henry and the cast and crew of BBC drama film 'My Name Is Leon' at a preview event in Birmingham [/media-credit]

#32

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Nikki Tapper interviews 'My Name Is Leon' cast and crew including Kit de Waal, Sir Lenny Henry and Lynette Linton in Birmingham [/media-credit]

#33

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Writer Kit de Waal and director Lynette Linton during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel in BIrmingham [/media-credit]

#34

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry during the BBC 'My Name Is Leon' discussion panel [/media-credit]

#35

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Audience members enjoying a panel discussion with Sir Lenny Henry and the cast and crew of BBC drama film 'My Name Is Leon' at a preview event in Birmingham [/media-credit]

#36

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Lynette Linton and Cole Martin on the red carpet for the My Name is Leon preview screening [/media-credit]

#37

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Cole Martin on the red carpet for the BBC 'My Name is Leon' preview screening in Birmingham[/media-credit]

#38

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Author Kit de Waal on the red carpet for the BBC 'My Name is Leon' preview screening in Birmingham[/media-credit]

#39

[media-credit name=”Adam Yosef ” align=”alignnone” width=”800″]Sir Lenny Henry on the red carpet for the BBC 'My Name is Leon' preview screening in Birmingham[/media-credit]

#40

Film director Lynette Linton on the red carpet for the BBC 'My Name is Leon' preview screening in BirminghamAdam Yosef

My Name is Leon will air this Friday 10 June at 9pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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