AN inspirational Essex teen is heading back to our screens as he is once again part of a huge fundraising event.

Burnham's own Lenny Rush will be back for this year's BBC Children in Need event.

This marks Lenny’s second year as part of the line-up, having become the first child presenter to co-host the annual Children in Need appeal last year.

He will be alongside Ade Adepitan MBE, Mel Giedroyc, Chris Ramsey, Vernon Kay and Rochelle Humes, the latter of which is returning to hosting duties for the first time since 2019.

The BBC's annual telethon raises money for the namesake charity, helping to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people around the UK.

The fabulous hosts will lead an unforgettable three-hour extravaganza filled with star-studded sketches, sensational musical acts, show-stopping performances and plenty of surprises from some of the UK’s most loved celebrities. 

Lenny expressed his excitement at returning, saying: "I am thrilled to be back for this year’s BBC Children in Need.

"It’s such an honour to be part of such a special production which helps raise money for both children and young people in the UK facing disadvantages.”

At just 15 years old, Lenny, who has a rare form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, has already celebrated plenty of success.

He won a BAFTA for Best Male Actor in a Comedy for his role in the BBC show Am I Being Unreasonable?, and has also earned accolades at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards and the National Comedy Awards.

Lenny was also a part of the recent series of BBC's sci-fi smash hit Doctor Who, alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s 15th Doctor.

Kalpna Patel-Knight, head of entertainment at the BBC, said: “Our Salford Super Six are set to guide everyone through a brilliant night of entertainment that truly unites people all across the UK for an incredibly important cause. It’s going to be unmissable."

Lenny and his fellow presenters will be live on BBC One and iPlayer for the show at 7pm on Friday, November 15, to take viewers through a sparkling evening of fun and fundraising.