Sir Lenny Henry is to host Comic Relief for the final time when the BBC fundraising telethon returns in March.

The comedian, who co-founded the charity with director Richard Curtis in 1985, said it was time for “new faces” after nearly 40 years at the helm.

This year’s campaign will culminate with the Red Nose Day broadcast on BBC One on Friday 15 March.

“When we first started Comic Relief back in 1985, I never dreamed we’d still be here today,” Sir Lenny said.

“I thought we’d probably do three shows and that would be it, but fast-forward nearly 40 years, and that enthusiasm and determination to step up and help others has never wavered.

“As life president of Comic Relief, I’m excited to see some new and familiar faces come forward now to present the big night and lead us into the next chapter.”

Sir Lenny co-hosted the inaugural Comic Relief show in 1988. It raised £15m in eight hours of TV comedy with the top stars of the day.

Donations have since surpassed £1.5bn, with money raised each year helping to tackle poverty, provide food, healthcare and safe shelter for people in the UK and around the world.

Sir Lenny said he knew people were struggling, particularly during the cost of living crisis. “But we also know that the British public are brilliant – you’re so kind and generous, if somebody has a problem, you always want to help out,” he said.

This year’s events will include a comedy night at the London Palladium on 26 February. Aisling Bea, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Joel Dommett, Mawaan Rizwan, Rosie Jones and Sara Pascoe will appear alongside Sir Lenny.

And a new sketch sees Sir Lenny asking celebrities – including actors Jonathan Bailey and Dame Joan Collins as well as TV personalities Gemma Collins, Davina McCall, Simon Cowell and Alison Hammond – about their fundraising plans.

The show raised over £34m in 2023 thanks in part to The Traitors and Eurovision sketches. For the first time in the fundraiser’s history, Sir Lenny did not appear as a main presenter due to commitments with another project.

Instead, a pre-recorded scene saw Sir Lenny feeling sick in his dressing room and pleading for a “doctor”, before regenerating into Doctor Who star David Tennant, who went on to host.

Charlotte Moore, chief content officer at the BBC, thanked Sir Lenny for his “incredible contribution” over the decades.

“This year’s Red Nose Day will be his last on screen but it promises to be extra special as we take the opportunity to mark his remarkable achievements on the night,” she said.