Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry review: Telling Tales more like a sermon

At times the show feels a bit self-indulgent (but what is a one-man show but an indulgence in oneself?).

Comedy review: Stephen Fry, Hamer Hall, Melbourne

Fry's professorial air belies a wicked wit and sense of mischief, but his baser comedy instincts are kept in check (with rare exceptions) tonight, as he delivers a virtuoso storytelling performance with true passion and tremendous skill.

Radio Times review

Comedian Susan Calman hyperventilates at the prospect of this week's topic: maths. "I'm phobic about maths," she wails to a sympathetic Stephen Fry, who guides her gently through a maths-based limerick. Future host Sandi Toksvig (who takes over next series, after Fry's retirement), however, thinks maths can be "beautiful". During a jolly episode where Alan Davies is outnumbered there to one by female contestants (including comedian Aisling Bea), we learn the difference between an anagram and an aptagram, and ponder whether rhesus monkeys can count.

John Lloyd talks TV and radio comedy... and Gogglebox

John spoke candidly about Stephen Fry's departure ("an iconic figure") and the origins of the series.

Stephen Fry on his cocaine habit

In an interview with Australian TV journalist Tony Jones, Fry shared his thoughts on 17 years of celibacy and why he used to 'self-medicate' with drugs and alcohol.

Radio Times review

The recent news of long-time host Stephen Fry's unexpected departure from QI casts a pall over this series, even though Sandi Toksvig will surely be a fine replacement.

Still, until he finally leaves there's plenty of fun to be had this week in the realm of M-themed places, including a country pronounced "Made-up-a-roo-rah", which the guests have to try and identify as real or fake (harder than you might think).

From an inspired riff by David Mitchell and Alan Davies on rather rudely named areas of the UK to a tirade about mangoes from newcomer Sami Shah, it's a timely reminder of why Fry's 13-year tenure on the series has been such a delight. Gosh, we'll be sad to see him go.

Quite interesting Sandi, quite interesting indeed

Series M of QI opens with A Medley of Maladies. Not much has changed apart from Stephen Fry's hair thickening up well. And yet, changes are on the 21st century-horizon for the show. Fry is stepping down after thirteen years of hosting, and Sandi Toksvig is taking control of the quizzical helm.

Radio Times review

Based on this episode, QI will definitely benefit from some of the extra female energy it'll get when Sandi Toksvig takes over. Upon given a question about historical attitudes to the private parts of women, an exasperated Cariad Lloyd is forced to educate her clueless male co-panellists (and host Stephen Fry) in a little anatomy that leaves them all squirming in their chairs like schoolboys.

As she comments, they've never looked more terrified - not even when they earlier learnt about the radioactive secrets that used to lurk inside children's breakfast cereals...

With the imperial QI war of succession over, and Sandi Toksvig taking over from Stephen Fry as schoolmaster-in-chief, dad TV's favourite quiz-ee Alan Davies has slowly been expanding his own media principality. His Dave show, for which he sits in the host's chair, takes the bold step of not actually being a quiz, with guests from Germaine Greer to Noel Fielding chatting round a table, unburdened by the uniquely British love of point-scoring.

Review - QI: series M, episode 1: a medley of maladies

With the sudden announcement this week that Stephen Fry would be leaving QI after this series, it feels right to have a look this current series, and try to figure out what we can expect to stay and to go when Sandi Toksvig takes over next year. If anything were to be kept from this episode, it would be Matt Lucas. It was his first time on the show and he did very well.