Lenny Henry has been appointed Knight Bachelor for services to drama and charity.

The 56-year-old comedian, who co-founded the charity Comic Relief, was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for 2015.

The actor and comedian, who married ex-wife Dawn French in Westminster, received the honour for services to drama and charity.

Henry has played such roles as Othello, and this year presented the Oliver awards.

Founded in 1985, Comic Relief has delivered aid to over 50m people in the UK and across the world's poorest communities.

Speaking on Chris Evans' Radio 2 show, Henry said: "It's a lovely, lovely feeling, it's like being filled with lemonade for 10, 15 minutes."

The knighthood comes after the news that Comic Relief has, in its 30-year history, raised a staggering £1,047,083,706 for aid work in poor countries, hitting the £1bn-mark on live television during the Red Nose Day broadcast.