The Fry Chronicles

Stephen Fry reads from his autobiography The Fry Chronicles. He recounts his arrival at Cambridge, meeting Hugh Laurie and his first tentative steps into the media world.

Stephen describes how he arrived at Cambridge on probation: a convicted fraudster and thief, an addict, liar and a fantasist, who had attempted suicide. He was convinced that at any moment he would be found out and flung away.

Instead, university life offered him love, romance and the chance to stand on stage and entertain. He began his iconic relationship with Hugh Laurie, befriended Emma Thompson among a host of household names, and emerged as one of the most promising comic talents in the country.

After leaving Cambridge, Stephen began to make his presence felt as he entered the world of television, journalism, radio, theatre and film. Tales of sugar and champagne jostle with insights into credit cards, classic cars and conspicuous consumption, Blackadder, Broadway and the BBC.

He recalls a curious encounter with Stephen Sondheim; becoming the literary critic of Tatler; and reveals how a call out of the blue led to him becoming a poster boy for, of all things, celibacy.

Stephen talks about his early love of radio and his first forays into broadcasting on BBC Radio 4 and also reveals the origins of his enduring love of technology and his great friendship with author Douglas Adams.