Lenny Henry pulls out as guest speaker

Funnyman Lenny Henry has had to pull out of a planned appearance in south Shropshire next week because of "shooting commitments".

The comedian was due to appear as guest speaker at a comedy writing course at the John Osborne Arvon Centre at Clunton, near Clun, next Monday.

The tutors for the course at the centre will still be David Stafford and Mandy Knight but Mr Henry will be unable to appear.

Dan Pavitt, administrator at the centre, said: "Unfortunately, he had to withdraw due to shooting commitments. We are hoping to see him next year, but unfortunately this year he could not make it."

Mr Pavitt said participants on the course had been told and poet John Hegley would be taking part as a replacement.

A spokeswoman for Mr Henry's agents PBJ Management said: "He's got a couple of gigs coming up and we just couldn't work around it."