Comedians Dawn French and Lenny Henry finalise divorce

COMEDY stars Dawn French and Lenny Henry were divorced yesterday on the grounds of his "unreasonable behaviour".

The couple, who separated after 25 years of marriage, did not attend the brief proceedings at the High Court in London. A "quickie" divorce was granted to French by District Judge Penny Cushing.

Henry, 52, and French, 53, met in 1981 and married in 1984. They adopted their daughter, Billie, in 1991.

When their split was announced earlier this year a spokesman described it as "entirely amicable".

No details of the unreasonable behaviour were given in divorce documents made public yesterday. In a question-and-answer style document, the actress, who gives her address as Fowey, Cornwall, is asked if the behaviour was continuing. She answers: "Yes."

In another court paper Henry, as respondent, states he did not intend to defend the case and did not object to paying the costs of the proceedings.

After making his name as a comic, Henry won an award for best newcomer for his portrayal of Othello last year.

French is a familiar face as one half of comedy duo French and Saunders.