Sir Sir Lenny Henry has been announced as patron of Yorkshire theatre Northern Broadsides.

Sir Sir Tom Courtenay, Stephanie Cole, Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Mike Poulton and Blake Morrison also join Henry in the role. Henry, who starred in the Northern Broadsides award winning show Othello, commented 'I've been asked to say why I am supporting Northern Broadsides as a patron. Which is an odd question because without Broadsides, my life would not have transformed. Without Broadsides I would not have taken on one of the greatest tragedies known to man - Othello by William Shakespeare. West Yorkshire Playhouse, then a tour then the Trafalgar theatre in London. Completely changed my life and turned my career around'.