Children in Need is set to light up screens on BBC One tonight, featuring young actor Lenny Rush as one of its presenters. The talented teen first caught the public’s eye in the CBeebies documentary Our Family and has since become a household name through his role in Daisy May Cooper’s hit BBC One comedy Am I Being Unreasonable?, where he even improvised some of his lines.
At just 15 years old, the Burnham-based actor lives with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a medical condition that causes dwarfism.
Lenny resides with his supportive family, including his parents and younger brother Bobby. It was his mother Lisa who signed them up for the Our Family series, which showcased diverse family dynamics.
Lenny discovered his passion for performing at the tender age of seven during the filming of the show. His mother spoke to The Guardian about managing his acting career alongside schooling, especially when he took a three-month hiatus to film Am I Being Unreasonable?, reports the Mirror.
Lisa explained the delicate equilibrium they strive for: “It’s a fine balance, because Lenny would do this full-time if he could he absolutely loves it and he’s living the dream at the moment but he is young, and he needs to have that time where he keeps his feet on the ground,” she told The Guardian.
Lenny himself feels fortunate to have such great friends who are “all lovely and very supportive” of his burgeoning career. However, he acknowledged feeling a hint of envy from some peers, particularly one: “It’s one kid in particular and you can’t do anything to stop that.”
He shared a humorous yet poignant reflection on dealing with jealousy: “This is really ironic coming from someone with dwarfism, but you’ve got to be the bigger person.”
In general, he was delighted to note that the positive remarks always surpassed the negative ones.
His family has consistently been incredibly supportive, with Lisa leaving her role as a dental nurse to look after him. Lenny’s father, Steve, operates a kitchen design company.
Over the years, he has undergone numerous surgical procedures and has expressed his appreciation to his parents for raising him to be self-assured.
Lenny is active on Instagram, where his account, managed by his mother, showcases some pictures of him enjoying quality time with his dad and brother.
Children in Need airs on BBC One tonight at 7pm