Why Dawn French found it difficult to stay married

In her first major interview since splitting from Lenny Henry, the actress talks about how ‘bizarre’ it is to be single again
The couple were married in 1984
The couple were married in 1984
IAN WEST/PA

There seems to be something different about Dawn French. She’s smiley and jolly, of course, but you kind of expect that from her as standard. No, this is something else: an extra fizz, a glow about her, which — and this is the only way I can describe it — reminds me of the Ready Brek advert from the 1970s.

This is a bit of a surprise, to be honest. Earlier this year she and Lenny Henry, one of the most stellar couples in showbusiness and a vaguely comforting touchstone for solid marriage, announced that they were divorcing. I didn’t expect her to be clawing at her face or wearing mourning weeds or anything but I did think that she might be sad and —