SIR Lenny Henry paid an emotional visit to Dudley Zoo as part of a BBC documentary chronicling his career.

The Dudley-born comic and actor returned to the Castle Hill attraction, where he worked as a youngster, as part of filming for Imagine: Lenny Henry: Young, Gifted and Black.

Sir Lenny showed host Alan Yentob around the site as he reminisced on his youth at the Queen Mary Ballroom and credited how a performance of Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock on the ballroom’s stage in the early 1970’s changed his life forever.

The documentary, which is currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer, also saw Sir Lenny take a ride on the zoo's vintage stairlift, as he looked back on his career which began when he was catapulted to fame when he won TV talent show 'New Faces' as a teenager.

Rachel Hickman, media and communications officer at Dudley Zoo and Castle, said: "Dudley Zoo has had strong roots in Black Country family life for more than eight decades and it was wonderful to hear first-hand about its importance in Lenny’s life.

“We were delighted to be involved in the programme and welcome Lenny back to DZC and to hear his tales from when he worked here and his zoo visits growing up.”