The quiz show stalwart handed over the show's reins to Sandy Toksvig
After 13 wonderful years fronting the immensely popular QI, host Stephen Fry bowed out and now his long-time friend and fellow panellist Alan Davies has revealed budget cuts and a tight schedule caused the comedic favourite to call it a day.
Stephen Fry has given up his QI hosting seat after 180 episodes
Davies explained the 59-year-old felt he could no longer continue with the show after 180 episodes due to the long working hours.
The Metro reported that BBC budgeting put pressure on the star until he eventually realised he no longer wanted to participate and decided to hang up his informational hat as the show landed on letter M of its alphabet theme.
MORE: Stephen Fry Quits Twitter After Backlash Over BAFTAS Bag Lady Joke
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Davies praised Fry and said: "For budget reasons, they ended up making him do three shows in 24 hours.
"Sometimes he’d go upstairs and have and vodka and tonic and a lie down the come back and say, ’I don’t want to do this’."
Alan added: "People have no idea just how good he was.
MORE: Stephen Fry Gushes About "Terrific" First Year Of Marriage
"You see what a mess other shows are - how long they take to record and how the audience is in torment. Then you go to a QI recording with Stephen in the chair and the two hours fly by - there are no pauses, barely a fluff on the autocue.
"Up-tempo, funny and sharp."
Alan also praised the show’s new host, Sandy Toksvig and described the "good atmosphere" around the show.
He said: "I had a great time making the show - I was funny. I actually have a bit more room!"
The new series of QI is currently airing on BBC Two at 10pm every Friday.
Lady Susan has a reputation that precedes her. She's a professional flirt who men flock...
Acclaimed filmmaker Whit Stillman reunites the stars of his 1998 drama The Last Days of...
This much more light-hearted sequel reinvigorates the franchise after Disney's quirky but murky 2010 reboot...
As Alice is once again taken into the magical and mysterious world that she's somehow...
Alice once again returns to Wonderland and meets a lot of familiar faces. This time...
With a baby on the way, Damon Gameau has decided to experiment with just how...
With wittier action and a few more sharply defined characters, this second episode in Peter...
Bilbo Baggins has narrowly escaped several deadly confrontations with the likes of trolls, stone giants...
Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf and their company thirteen dwarves have managed to leave the Misty Mountains...
Michael Winterbottom vividly recreates swinging 1960s London in this biopic about one of Soho's most...