Burnham schoolboy, 14, wins BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance – beating Daniel Radcliffe and Stephen Merchant

By Ben Shahrabi 15th May 2023

Local News by Ben Shahrabi 15th May 2023

Lenny Rush, 14, a student at Ormiston Rivers Academy in Burnham-On-Crouch, has bagged a BAFTA for his role in the BBC's 'Am I Being Unreasonable?'.

The rising star was up against Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe, The Outlaws' Stephen Merchant, and The IT Crowd's Matt Berry for the 'Best Male Comedy Performance' at the BAFTA TV awards, last night (May 14).

Lenny was said to be "over the moon" to win the award, telling the crowd: "I just want to say I'm so happy. I can't believe I won amongst so many other great nominees."

After the ceremony, he told reporters: "Daisy [May Cooper]'s the best.

"The whole crew is amazing, they're like one big family."

The acting prodigy has secured multiple theatre and TV roles, including stints on the BBC's series Apple Tree House and CBBC's The Dumping Ground.

But this is not Lenny's first major award. He received a breakthrough award at the 2023 National Comedy Awards, along with two more wins at the 2023 Royal Television Society Programme Awards: the Breakthrough Award and Best Male Comedy Performance.

Lenny is "an incredible inspiration" for his fellow Ormiston Rivers students.

Joanne Williams, Principal at Ormiston Rivers Academy, said: "We are absolutely delighted to see Lenny's talents being recognised by BAFTA, which is extremely well-deserved.

"It has been a pleasure to watch Lenny's career flourish and I know there are many more amazing opportunities and achievements ahead of him. He is an incredible inspiration for all of us here, and we are so pleased to be able to cheer him on."

Lenny has also worked at the Old Vic theatre in London for several years, where he is an access ambassador for people with disabilities.