Danny and the Human Zoo

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Danny_and_the_human_zoo.jpg

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| genre = Drama

| creator =

| based_on =

| writer = Lenny Henry

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = Destiny Ekaragha

| starring = Lenny Henry
Kascion Franklin
Evanna Lynch
Arthur Darvill
James Phelps
Oliver Phelps
Richard Wilson
Richard Boland
John Yapp
Peter Bankole
Michael Crump

| narrated =

| composer = Ben Onono

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| num_episodes =

| producer = Juliet Charlesworth

| executive_producer = Polly Hill
Caroline Hollick
Nicola Shindler

| editor =

| cinematography =

| runtime = 90 minutes

| company = Red Production Company

| budget =

| network = BBC One

| released = {{Start date|2015|08|31|df=y}}

}}

Danny and the Human Zoo is a British drama television film that first broadcast on BBC One on 31 August 2015.{{cite news | url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-02-28/lenny-henry-to-make-film-about-his-early-life-for-bbc1 | title=Lenny Henry to make film about his early life for BBC1 | work=Radio Times | date=28 February 2014 | accessdate=8 March 2014 | author=Dowell, Ben}} The ninety-minute film, written by Lenny Henry and directed by Destiny Ekaragha, is a fictionalised account of the former's life as a teenager in 1970s Dudley.{{cite news | url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/59060-bbc-orders-lenny-henry-biographical-drama/ | title=BBC orders Lenny Henry biographical drama | work=The List | date=28 February 2014 | accessdate=8 March 2014}}{{cite news | url=http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/news/story/2014/02/28/bbc-orders-lenny-henry/ | title=BBC orders Lenny Henry biographical drama | work=Virgin Media | date=28 February 2014 | accessdate=8 March 2014}}{{cite news | url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/lenny-henrys-dudley-childhood-tv-6757371 | title=Lenny Henry writes TV drama about Dudley childhood | work=Birmingham Mail | date=28 February 2014 | accessdate=8 March 2014 | author=Young, Gary}}

Production

The film was commissioned by Charlotte Moore and Ben Stephenson.{{cite news | url=http://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/2014/02/red-production-co-makes-lenny-henry-drama-for-bbc-one/ | title=Red Production Co makes Lenny Henry drama for BBC One | work=Prolific North | date=28 February 2014 | accessdate=8 March 2014 | author=Chapman, Stephen}} The head of BBC One wanted to give black actors more prominent television roles.{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/bbc-boost-for-female-and-black-actors-wwrxnq0tvg9 | title=BBC boost for female and black actors | work=The Times | date=28 February 2014 | access-date=8 March 2014 | author=Spence, Alex}} The executive producers are Caroline Hollick, Nicola Shindler and Polly Hill.{{cite news | url=http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/BBC-One-champions-dramas-based-on-real-life_nid-3987.html | title=BBC One champions dramas based on real life | work=Televisual | date=28 February 2014 | accessdate=8 March 2014 | author=Considine, Pippa}}

References

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