Lennie Bennett Leaves the Gazette for the BBC

Michael Berry, born on 26 September 1938 in Blackpool, was better known by his stage name, Lennie Bennett. An English comedian and game-show host, he became a familiar face on British television throughout the 1970s and 1980s. After attending Palatine Secondary School in Blackpool, Bennett began his career as a journalist for the West Lancashire Evening Gazette. He later transitioned into entertainment, initially working as a professional hypnotist before making his television debut on the BBC light entertainment programme The Good Old Days in 1969. His breakthrough came when he partnered with Jerry Stevens to create The Lennie and Jerry Show (originally titled Lennie and Jerry), which ran from 1978 to 1980.

Bennett gained further recognition as the host of popular game shows, including Punchlines and Lucky Ladders during the 1980s. Over his career, he performed at twelve Royal Variety Shows and briefly hosted a chat show for London Weekend Television in 1982. In the mid-1990s, he stepped back from television to focus on corporate events and after-dinner speaking. This decision was partly influenced by a serious heart attack in 1994, which led to a bypass operation and a reduced workload. However, he did return to TV for occasional appearances, including a special game-show-host edition of The Weakest Link with Anne Robinson in 2003 and ITV’s After They Were Famous in 2004.

Bennett spent his later years living near Cleveleys, leading a quieter life while still being a familiar presence in local clubs and showbars around the Fylde. He passed away on 8 April 2009 at the age of 70 at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, after suffering a fall at home from which he never regained consciousness. His funeral was held at Carleton Crematorium.