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Irish Authorities Reportedly Drop Blasphemy Investigation Into Stephen Fry


Stephen Fry

Just a few days after it was revealed that he was about to be investigated for blasphemy in Ireland, authorities have reportedly dropped the case because they haven’t found enough people who were outraged over the actor’s remarks about God made more than two years ago.

The Garda Siochana – the Irish state police force – had reportedly begun to look in to Fry’s comments that he made about God in a television interview on the Irish state broadcaster RTE. Appearing on ‘The Meaning of Life’ hosted by Gay Byrne back in February 2015, Fry said he could never respect “a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world… full of injustice.”

One individual complained at the time, who previously told the Irish Independent: “I did my civic duty in reporting it. The guards did their duty in investigating it. I am satisfied with the result.”

Continue reading: Irish Authorities Reportedly Drop Blasphemy Investigation Into Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry Investigated By Irish Police For Blasphemy


Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry is reportedly being investigated by police in Ireland after a complaint of blasphemy was made against him concerning an interview on Irish television over two years ago.

Gardai (the Irish state police force) in Dublin have been in contact with the individual who made the complaint regarding a television programme broadcast by state network RTE in February 2015 in which Fry referred to God as “capricious, mean-minded, stupid”.

Stephen FryStephen Fry made the comments in February 2015

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Investigated By Irish Police For Blasphemy

Stephen Fry Had To Quit QI Because Of The Long Working Hours


Stephen Fry Alan Davies

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 FryStephen 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.

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Love and Friendship - Trailer and Clips


Lady Susan has a reputation that precedes her. She's a professional flirt who men flock toward. Having lost her husband, Lady Susan is out to find herself a wealthy new groom and one - perhaps slightly less well off - for her daughter who doesn't have her mother's knack for enticing suitors. 

When Lady Susan visits the home of her late husband's relatives, it doesn't take long for her to woo a few too many men - both married and single - and the rumour mill is in full swing. Lady Susan knows exactly what she wants in a man but finding someone with the right assets for her and another person for her daughter might just be too much. 

Love & Friendship is based on the Jane Austen novella 'Lady Susan' and will be in cinemas from May 2016.

Love & Friendship Review

Extraordinary

Acclaimed filmmaker Whit Stillman reunites the stars of his 1998 drama The Last Days of Disco, Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny, for what might be the most entertaining big-screen Jane Austen adaptation ever. Based on her novella Lady Susan, this is a lacerating social comedy packed with hugely engaging characters. It brilliantly captures Austen's gift for crisply astute comedy, giving everyone in the gifted cast a chance to shine.

Set in 1790s England, the story centres on Lady Susan (Beckinsale), who has been recently widowed and now needs to sort out a hopefully lucrative future. First, she sets out to find a wealthy, dim-witted man to marry her spoiled daughter Frederica (Morfydd Clark), and the dorky Sir James (Tom Bennett) is the perfect candidate. For herself, she sets her sights on the gorgeous, gullible Reginald (Xavier Samuel), the younger brother of her sister-in-law Catherine (Emma Greenwell), who's the only person who can see through Susan's scheming. Through all of this, Susan's only confidant is her American friend Alicia (Sevigny), who is sensibly married to an older man (Stephen Fry). And of course, Susan's plans simply refuse to go as she expects.

Beckinsale is terrific in the role as a sexy cougar who keeps all the men around her happy with blatant flattery. She understands the way to a man's heart, and isn't afraid to exploit everyone around her to make sure that she and Frederica are set up for life. Beckinsale gets this balance of charm and contempt exactly right, and her riotously sharp wit easily wins over the audience. The cast around her is just as good, engaging with Susan in fabulous wordplay, unable to resist being manipulated by her charisma. As the two targets of Susan's strategy, Bennett and Samuel are particularly strong. Bennett's bumbling James is simply the funniest thing on-screen this year, while Samuel manages to keep Reginald sweetly charming and never dull.

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Alice Through The Looking Glass Review

Excellent

This much more light-hearted sequel reinvigorates the franchise after Disney's quirky but murky 2010 reboot of Lewis Carroll's classic, which sent the heroine into Underland (not Wonderland) for a dark adventure that spiralled into a Lord of the Rings-scale battle. Thankfully this time the odyssey remains personal, centred on lively characters rather than overwrought plotting. And Alice's time-travelling quest is both pointed and engaging.

After captaining her late father's ship on a global journey, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns to 1875 London to bad news: her mother (Lindsay Duncan) has made decisions that take her future out of her hands. As she struggles to respond, she is summoned back to Underland to help her friend Hatter (Johnny Depp), who is emotionally devastated by the fact that his entire family has been killed. So Alice decides to help by confronting Time (Sacha Baron Cohen) and stealing a device that will allow her to travel back to help the younger Hatter. But she also becomes entangled in the early life of the White and Red Queens (Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway), and the feud that grew between them as young sisters. Meanwhile, Time is terrified that Alice is unravelling the fabric of reality.

The emotional nature of Alice's mission adds a surprising layer of suspense to the entire film, while director James Bobin (The Muppets) adds a breezy comical tone to Tim Burton's stunningly visual designs. Some of the more wacky flourishes don't quite work (such as the "sea of time" imagery or Time's hand-powered vehicle), but the film more than makes up for these with wonderful character details. This lets the actors relax into their roles while cranking up the surreal touches. Wasikowska is great as the plucky heroine fighting for her right to control her own life, a strong point that's made without preaching.

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Stephen Fry Apologises "Unreservedly" For Comments About Sexual Abuse


Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry has apologised “unreservedly” for his recent comments about sexual abuse survivors, after he suggested on an American TV show that victims should stop wallowing in “self-pity” and “grow up”.

The 58 year old British comedian and presenter was speaking on US show ‘The Rubin Report’ this week, and made the original comments in the context of an interview about ‘trigger warnings’, free speech and censorship of art and literature at universities. He was met with a fierce backlash online after he accused those who insisted on such content warnings of being too sensitive.

Stephen FryStephen Fry has apologised for his recent comments about trigger warnings and child sex abuse survivors

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Apologises "Unreservedly" For Comments About Sexual Abuse

Charity Responds To Stephen Fry's Damaging Statement On Child Sex Abuse


Stephen Fry

Everyone has the right to an opinion, but sometimes people in the public eye need to take more care in what they say for the sake of their fans. Stephen Fry is a prime example of this, having just caused an avalanche of anger after telling child abuse victims to 'grow up'.

Stephen FryStephen Fry under fire for child sex abuse comments

Many people have jumped to Fry's defence claiming that his words have been taken out of context, but that doesn't excuse the insensitively flippant language he used to make his point. In an appearance on the self-proclaimed 'politically incorrect' US talk show 'The Rubin Report', he made his feelings about abuse victims avoiding certain literature for fear of emotional triggers very clear.

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Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass Trailer


As Alice is once again taken into the magical and mysterious world that she's somehow connected to, Alice finds herself with her friends on the other side of the looking glass. Through Alice doesn't really know why, she's attached to the peculiar world and its inhabitants but her latest visit will put the young girl in grave danger. 

The Red Queen has gained a dangerous new ally who is out to find the young blonde haired girl. As the clock ticks and tocks, the game of kings becomes a whole new reality and Alice must find a way to beat her opponents. 

Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass is based on the characters from Lewis Carroll's novel and is produced by Tim Burton. The Muppets director James Bobin directs the feature film.  

Stephen Fry Is 'Free At Last' After Quitting Twitter


Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry has said he’s ‘free at last’ after deactivating his twitter account. Fry quit twitter following Sunday night’s BAFTA awards, after he came under fire for referring to costume designer Jenny Beavan as a ‘bag lady’.

Stephen FryStephen Fry feels free after leaving twitter.

Blogging on his website Fry said: ‘It’s no big deal – as it shouldn’t be. But yes, for anyone interested I have indeed deactivated my twitter account. I’ve ‘left’ twitter before, of course: many people have time off from it whether they are in the public eye or not. Think of it as not much more than leaving a room.’

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Stephen Fry Leaves Twitter After Backlash Over BAFTAs 'Bag Lady' Joke


Stephen Fry BAFTA

Stephen Fry has deleted his twitter account after coming under fire for a joke he made while hosting the BAFTA awards on Sunday evening (February 14th). Fry, who has hosted the awards ceremony for 10 years, had hit back at the online critics before removing his twitter account completely.

Stephen FryStephen Fry has deleted his twitter account.

After costume designer Jenny Beavan won the Best Costume Design award for her work on Mad Max: Fury Road, Fry joked: “Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to an awards ceremony dressed as a bag lady.”

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Leaves Twitter After Backlash Over BAFTAs 'Bag Lady' Joke

Stephen Fry Opens Up About '90s Disappearance: 'My Luck Began To Fizzle Out'


Stephen Fry Hugh Laurie

Comedian Stephen Fry has opened up about his disappearance in 1995, saying he would have ended his own life if he didn’t have the option of vanishing for a while. The 58-year-old was speaking as part of BBC documentary ‘Stephen Fry: A Life On Screen’ which airs tonight (December 29th) on BBC Two.

Stephen FryStephen Fry has spoken about his 1995 disappearance.

Fry disappeared in 1995 just three days before he was due to star in Cell Mates on London’s West End. At the time a spokesperson for his agent said, “We are concerned about him” and confirmed they did not know the comedian’s whereabouts.

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Opens Up About '90s Disappearance: 'My Luck Began To Fizzle Out'

Netflix To Release New Versions Of 'Inspector Gadget', 'Danger Mouse'


Stephen Fry Netflix

Streaming service Netflix has announced it is developing five children's shows including new versions of the kids' classics Inspector Gadget and Danger Mouse. It's part of a move from the service to increase its high quality children's programming.

Netflix

Inspector Gadget follows the trials of a bumbling bionic detective while Danger Mouse will feature the rodent superspy who became one of the most popular animated characters of the 1980s. Elsewhere, Some Assembly Required is a live-action show about a kid toy inventor, Bottersnikes & Gumbles is based on the Australian book series of the same name and Super 4 will be a CGI-animated series inspired by Playmobil toys.

Continue reading: Netflix To Release New Versions Of 'Inspector Gadget', 'Danger Mouse'

Stephen Fry Dumfounded Over Backlash To God Comments


Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry says he is "astonished" at the backlash over his comments about God though is pleased that it sparked debate on Twitter. During an interview on Irish television, Fry was asked what he would say if ever confronted by God.

Stephen FryStephen Fry says he was pleased that his comments sparked debate

"I'd say, bone cancer in children? What's that about?" Fry replied. "How dare you? How dare you create a world to which there is such misery that is not our fault. It's not right, it's utterly, utterly evil."

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Stephen Fry Calls God "Utterly Evil And Monstrous" On Irish TV


Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry denounced God as "utterly evil, capricious and monstrous" during RTE show The Meaning of Life on Sunday (February 2, 2014). The writer and actor's response came after he was asked by Gay Byrne what he would say to God if he died and had to confront him.

Stephen FryStephen Fry called God "stupid" and "mean-minded"

In his imaginary conversation with God, Fry said: "How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It's not right.

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Calls God "Utterly Evil And Monstrous" On Irish TV

Benedict Cumberbatch Signs Open Letter Calling For The Pardon Of 49,000 Gay Men Convicted Of Gross Indecency


Benedict Cumberbatch Stephen Fry

The Imitation Game star Benedict Cumberbatch has signed an open letter to the British government calling for thousands of gay men convicted of gross indecency to be granted the same pardon as codebreaker Alan Turing.

Benedict Cumberbatch in the Imitation GameBenedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game

Cumberbatch, who has been nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Turing in the biopic, has added his name to the letter, which has already been signed by 40,000 people. The letter calls on the royal family to back the campaign and give a pardon to all those who were convicted of a crime because of their sexuality.

Continue reading: Benedict Cumberbatch Signs Open Letter Calling For The Pardon Of 49,000 Gay Men Convicted Of Gross Indecency

Stephen Fry Marries Fiancé Elliott Spencer, Announces Happy News On Twitter


Stephen Fry Hugh Laurie Ryan Gage Mark Gatiss

Stephen Fry and Elliott Spencer are married! The couple announced their happy news on Saturday (17th January). Fry announced the news via Twitter and attached a picture of the couple signing the marriage register. "Gosh. @ElliottGSpencer and I go into a room as two people, sign a book and leave as one. Amazing," Fry wrote. 

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Stephen Fry Quits Twitter, But Is It To Shoot 'Star Wars: Episode VII'?


Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry, to many the Godfather forefather of Twitter, suddenly quit the social network on Thursday, signing off with a rather cryptic message for his 1.3 million follows. Fry, one of the most prolific Twitter users, left fans baffled after announcing his departure until December.

Stephen FryStephen Fry has quit Twitter for a month - though surely it's not to shoot Star Wars?

He wrote: "Closing down on Twitter while filming. In a place whence I've been advised it is safest not to tweet. See you December. Here goes..."

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Quits Twitter, But Is It To Shoot 'Star Wars: Episode VII'?

Stephen Fry Reveals He Took Cocaine In Buckingham Palace And House Of Lords


Stephen Fry

Writer and presenter Stephen Fry has confessed to consuming cocaine at both Buckingham Palace and the House of Lords. In his new autobiography, the ‘QI’ host described his 15 year addiction to the drug saying he’d “‘brought noble properties into squalid disrepute,” during the period.

Stephen FryStephen Fry has admitted to using cocaine in a number of high profile venues

In More Fool Me, published on Thursday, Fry wrote that he had consumed the Class A drug in high profile places including Windsor Castle, Clarence House, Sandringham House, BBC Television Centre, ITV headquarters, the offices of the Daily Telegraph, the Times, the Spectator and Tatler as well as a host of other exclusive venues.

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Stephen Fry Is In Martin Scorsese's New Movie, 'Tomorrow'


Stephen Fry Martin Scorsese

Stephen Fry and the singer-songwriter Joss Stone are among the cast for the Martin Scorsese produced Tomorrow, the directorial debut of Martha Pinson, his long-time script consultant. 

Stephen FryStephen Fry is among the cast for the Martin Scorsese produced 'Tommorowland'

The movie explores the difficulties that many soldiers in World War II had with reintegrating into society. Production began in London on Monday (September 22) and will continue in Wiltshire and Spain.

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Is In Martin Scorsese's New Movie, 'Tomorrow'

The 2014 BAFTAs Run Like The Oscars' Older, Funnier Sister


Stephen Fry Emma Thompson Chiwetel Ejiofor Steve McQueen Alfonso Cuaron Lupita Nyong'o Barkhad Abdi

As the British equivalent to the Oscars, last night’s BAFTAs were obviously a glamorous affair. In between bouts of Stephen Fry’s self deprecating humor (“[Oprah’s] performance in The Butler was so moving, I almost gave mine the afternoon off.”) and jabs at all of his colleagues (Fry introduced the flawless Emma Thompson as “In the film world, a goddess. In real life, a ghastly piece of sickly shrieking awful.”) there were also some awards given out.

Stephen Fry, The Hobbit Premiere
Stephen Fry always makes for an entertaining awards show.

The big winners of the night were somewhat surprising. Predictions pegged Gravity and 12 Years A Slave – the two award show favorites so far – for the majority of BAFTAs as well. Instead, the Steve McQueen directed 12 Years only took two awards out of 8 nods total. Granted, they were the big ones - best film and leading actor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) – but that was it.

Continue reading: The 2014 BAFTAs Run Like The Oscars' Older, Funnier Sister

'24: Live Another Day' Will Feature Stephen Fry As Prime Minister


Stephen Fry Kiefer Sutherland

The new season of 24 has been grabbing headlines on both sides of the Atlantic over the past month. London is at the center of this focus due to the film’s British setting.

Kiefer Sutherland
Keifer Sutherland On The Set Of '24' In London

And now – in more Anglo-centric news - Stephen Fry is to play the recurring role of Trevor Davies, British Prime Minister in the twelve-episode series.

Continue reading: '24: Live Another Day' Will Feature Stephen Fry As Prime Minister

Stephen Fry Joins '24' New Season, As British Prime Minister


Stephen Fry Kiefer Sutherland

24's new series will feature Stephen Fry as the British Prime Minister. Fry confirmed the news on Twitter, posting a link to the story on Deadline.com and writing, "Well, this particular cat is out of the bag." 

Stephen FryStephen Fry Will Play British Prime Minister in '24's New Season'

In 'Live Another Day' - set four years after the last series and once again starring Kiefer Sutherland - Fry will play the "strong and charismatic" leader of the country. Sutherland's counter-terrorist expert Jack Bauer returns to London as a fugitive on the run from the CIA. Our recent photographs show the U.S. star shooting action scenes in the capital's Aldgate.

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Joins '24' New Season, As British Prime Minister

Bravo Stephen Fry, May Your Open Letter Herald Change


Stephen Fry

If you haven’t read Stephen Fry’s eloquently written, emotionally charged open letter to the Prime Minister, M Rogge, Lord Coe and Members of the International Olympic Committee, then you can do that here. If you have, then you’ve probably shared it on Facebook or Twitter or some such.

Fry is making the most of the digital age - something he’s both obsessed with and delighted with – by writing an open letter, pleading to both the leaders of sport and politics in this country, the worlds of which are entwined, to help put an end to the violently homophobic regime currently operating in Russia under Vladimir Putin’s command.

Stephen FryFry's letter will reach millions through the power of social media

Continue reading: Bravo Stephen Fry, May Your Open Letter Herald Change

Stephen Fry Demands Russian Winter Olympics Ban Over Anti-Gay Laws In Letter To PM


Stephen Fry David Cameron

TV presenter and comedian Stephen Fry has spoken out against the Russian Federation's new harsh anti-Gay law that even forbids the discussion of homosexuality around young people under 18. In an open letter to UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the Olympic Committee (IOC) and Lord Sebastian Coe, Fry urges that Russia be banned from the 2014 Winter Olympics, disparaging the country's laws as "shaven headed thuggery and bigoted religion."

Stephen Fry
Fry Has Demonstrated His Disgust Over Russia's Gay Laws.

If the Winter Olympics in Russia went ahead, rule six of the code of the Olympic Movement would indeed be flouted, as Fry quotes in his letter: "[The IOC should] Act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement."

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Demands Russian Winter Olympics Ban Over Anti-Gay Laws In Letter To PM

Body Of Eastenders Actor Paul Bhattacharjee Has Been Identified


Stephen Fry

The body of EastEnders actor Paul Bhattacharjee was found last week, after a two-day disappearance. He was found at Splash Point cliffs in Seaford, East Sussex. Yesterday (Wednesday, June 17th) the body was finally identified as belonging to the 53-year-old actor. His next of kin have been notified and the death isn’t being treated as suspicious. Bhattacharjee was last seen leaving the Royal Court Theatre in London’s Sloan Square on July 10th, according to the BBC.

Stephen Fry, RAA Auction
Stephen Fry was among those appealing for the actor's return.

Those who saw him last say the actor had appeared to be in good spirits on the night, even having texted his girlfriend before he went off the radar. The Met was contacted on Wednesday morning by Sussex Police who said a body matching his description had been found last week. A number of actors took to Twitter to urge people to be on the lookout during Bhattacharjee’s disappearance. After news of the Casino Royal actor’s death, many used social media to express their grief and give their condolences to his family. Musician and composer Nitin Sawhney tweeted: "The saddest day. My friend (cast as Tagore in my play) Paul Bhattacharjee was found dead yesterday."

Continue reading: Body Of Eastenders Actor Paul Bhattacharjee Has Been Identified

Paul Bhattacharjee's Death Confirmed Prompting Twitter Tributes


Stephen Fry Kim Cattrall Colin McCredie Brooke Kinsella

Paul Bhattacharjee, the actor best known for his role as Inzaman on EastEnders, has died. The 53-year-old actor went missing on Wednesday 10th July. A body found in East Sussex on 12th July has been confirmed as Bhattacharjee.

Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry at the NOW Exhibition, held at the Royal Academy of Arts, 2012.

His body was found near cliffs in Seaford, East Sussex on Friday 12th July. It wasn't until yesterday that the body was identified as that of the actor.

Continue reading: Paul Bhattacharjee's Death Confirmed Prompting Twitter Tributes

Where Is Paul Bhattacharjee? Actor's Disappearance Sparks Fears For Safety


Stephen Fry Daniel Gillies

Paul Bhattacharjee was in high spirits after he left rehearsals at London's Royal Court theatre at approximately 6.15pm on Wednesday 10th July. His girlfriend received a text from the James Bond actor at 9pm but he has not been seen since, with increasing fears for the 53 year-old's safety. As reported by The Guardian, police have described Bhattacharjee's disappearance as "totally out of character" and are appealing to the public for any information or witnesses.

A Royal Court spokesperson has said that "He left on Wednesday in good spirits but didn't make it to rehearsals the next day," which was unusual for the hard-working actor who has starred in Spooks, The Bill, Waking the Dead and Eastenders. He was in the midst of rehearsals for Talk Show - a black comedy - in which Bhattacharjee's character has now been recast with performances having commenced from 16th July.

Paul Bhattacharje Performing In Much Ado About Nothing With Meera Syal:

Continue reading: Where Is Paul Bhattacharjee? Actor's Disappearance Sparks Fears For Safety

Stephen Fry’s Attempted Suicide While Filming Gay Documentary


Stephen Fry

It speaks volumes for both The U.K and the man himself, that Stephen Fry is openly gay, suffers from bipolar disorder, and is still a national treasure. Part of the reason he is so highly thought of is his openness and honesty, especially regarding his life-long battle with depression.

"I would go as far as to tell you that I attempted it last year,” explained Fry as he opened up on the issue of suicide, “so I'm not always happy – this is the first time I've said this in public, but I might as well. I'm president of Mind, and the whole point in my role, as I see it, is not to be shy and to be forthcoming about the morbidity and genuine nature of the likelihood of death amongst people with certain mood disorders." It was revealed that the comedien, writer, director, poet and actor, among other things, attempted to commit suicide while filming a BBC documentary about being gay in different parts of the world. Thankfully, he was stopped. 

"Fortunately, the producer I was filming with at the time came into the hotel room and I was found in a sort of unconscious state and taken back to England and looked after," he said while in conversation with fellow comedian Richard Herring. The host of Q.I and general British favourite empowers many to be openly gay, and his work with Mind, who deal with mental illness in the U.K, will no doubt raise awareness across the country, considering his high profile.

Stephen Fry Opens Up On His Condition: ‘I Attempted Suicide Last Year’


Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry is often open about his bipolar condition; we know about his tumultuous upbringing and his troubled teenage years. As one of Britain’s most treasured broadcasters, his position as the President of Mind – a mental health charity – represents a dichotomy of sorts.

On the one hand, he must inform and entertain in his various roles for the BBC and beyond, but on the other, he must remain open and honest so that he may help others with afflictions akin to his. Thankfully, for those with mental health issues, he is a constant beacon of candidness, and his latest comments while chatting with fellow comedian Richard Herring are nothing less than brutally honest.

"I would go as far as to tell you that I attempted it last year, so I'm not always happy – this is the first time I've said this in public, but I might as well,” he explained to a live audience at the Leicester Square Theatre. “I'm president of Mind, and the whole point in my role, as I see it, is not to be shy and to be forthcoming about the morbidity and genuine nature of the likelihood of death amongst people with certain mood disorders."

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Opens Up On His Condition: ‘I Attempted Suicide Last Year’

Stephen Fry Was Saved By His Producer Following Drink And Drugs Suicide Attempt Last Year


Stephen Fry

National treasure and known bipolar-sufferer Stephen Fry apparently tried to take his life last year, with the everyman spiralling into a deep, seemingly inescapable depression whilst filming overseas. Downing a cocktail of vodka and pills whilst locked away in his hotel suite, it was only because of a intervention of one of his producers that the QI presenter was found and rescued.

Fry detailed his most recent attempt to take his life - having tried a various points in his life before, most famously during his 1995 breakdown when he fled to Belgium - during an on-stage interview with comic Richard Herring at the Leicester Square Theatre in London. He told the comic; "I am the victim of my own moods, more than most people are perhaps, in as much as I have a condition which requires me to take medication so that I don’t get either too hyper or too depressed to the point of suicide," going on to say, "It was a close run thing. I took a huge number of pills and a huge amount of vodka and the mixture of them made my body convulse so much that I broke four ribs, but I was still unconscious. And, fortunately, the producer I was filming with at the time came into the hotel room and I was found in a sort of unconscious state and taken back to England and looked after.”

The well-exposed television presenter, who has fronted exposés on the mental disorder in the past, also spoke of the anguish he feels during the filming of QI, despite the usually chirpy front he has on when the cameras are rolling. “There are times when I’m doing QI and I’m going, ‘ha ha, yeah, yeah’ and inside I’m going, ‘I want to f****** die. I want to f****** die.’”

Continue reading: Stephen Fry Was Saved By His Producer Following Drink And Drugs Suicide Attempt Last Year

Edinburgh Festival Goes Down Under Yet Again, This Time With Fergus Linehan


Stephen Fry Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Former director of the Sydney Festival, Fergus Linehan, has been appointed to take over the Edinburgh international festival, which will kick off this August in the historic city.

Until as recently as 2012, Linehan – a Irish native – was the head of contemporary music at the Sydney Opera House, and currently, he is the artistic director of Vivid LIVE, which this May, presents Kraftwerk performing their eight albums and Bobby Womack's Australian debut. Linehan said: "I am delighted and deeply honoured to have been appointed as the next director of the Edinburgh international festival. I look forward to safeguarding the founding principles of the festival in ways which are engaging and relevant to all. Successful festivals respond to both place and provenance to create a unique identity and this is particularly true of Edinburgh, the pre-eminent festival city."

Stephen FryStephen Fry made his name at The Edinburgh Fringe

Continue reading: Edinburgh Festival Goes Down Under Yet Again, This Time With Fergus Linehan

Sweeney Todd Sweeps The Board Whilst Stephen Fry Also Wins At Whatsonstage.com Awards


Michael Ball Stephen Fry

Sweeney Todd was the clear champ at the more prestigious than they sound Whatonstage.com Awards in London at the weekend, with the much-loved play taking five wins, including best musical revival, best actor (for Michael Ball), best actress (Imelda Staunton), best director and best lighting.

The awards are voted for by theatre goers, so although the more traditional ceremony critics might sniff their nose at them, they often mean a good deal more to the recipients, given that it’s the public vote that’s meant they’ve achieved the win. For instance take Stephen Fry, who won a best supporting actor award for his performance as Malvolio in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. “ I am simply astonished” he said, according to Sky. “Seventeen years ago, I left this country in disgrace having run out of a play and I thought I might never return to the stage again. But thanks to the Globe ... I have been back on stage in a wonderful play and had the privilege of playing with one of the best casts that has ever been assembled."

Fry’s comments came in relation to a bad review he got for a performance in the play Cell Mates, something that caused the star – who suffers from manic depression - to skip the country. Elsewhere, Will Young won a newcomer of the year award for his West End debut in Cabaret.

Continue reading: Sweeney Todd Sweeps The Board Whilst Stephen Fry Also Wins At Whatsonstage.com Awards

Kylie Minogue Returns To Television For The First Time Since Neighbours


Kylie Minogue Andy Warhol Stephen Fry

It's safe to say that, while television provided her with the platform she needed, Kylie Minogue is a popstar first and an actor second. But she'll be needed her skillset from the latter as she returns to TV in a black comedy drama on Sky Arts.

Hey Diddly Dee - about a group of actors putting on a play about Andy Warhol - will also star Homeland star David Harewood, and sees her in a rare television performance since she quit Neighbours to pursue an illustrious career in music. The show is by Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig's production company, Sprout, and written and directed by actor Marc Warren. She made a brief comeback in the Doctor Who Christmas special on BBC1 in 2007, and earned rave reviews for her most recent role in Leos Carax film, Holy Motors, last year. "I'd definitely love to do more acting. My heart cries out for it; it's such a deep longing," she told the Guardian in an interview at the time. "For years I've been waiting to get back into it and it just hasn't happened. Or, it has happened and it was so disastrous that I thought: 'Oh, it's just not for me.'"

Sky's head of drama, Anne Mensah, told journalists of the show: "I think there's a drama renaissance going on at the moment ... to add Sky to that mix, anything that Sky does makes the drama community in the UK just richer and more exciting."

A Return To Form, Stephen Fry On Stage As Malvolio In The West End.


Stephen Fry

17 years ago, in 1995, Stephen Fry fled the stage of Cell Mates, by Simon Gray. Citing stage fright initially, and later, attributing it to a bout of depression as part of his sufferance with bi-polar disorder, Fry has not returned to the stage until now. Appearing as Malvolio, the epicentre of the comic sub-plot of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, his role has drawn vast national attention, to almost universally positive reception. 

Twelfth Night is, fundamentally, a confused love story of repeated mistaken identity, with a further comic sub-plot about a group of servants trying to convince Malvolio that a beautiful woman has fallen in love with him, the result which makes him appear mad. Malvolio's character and his role in the canon of literature becomes ever more significant in a world that is largely both particularly pointed at mental illness, yet also decidedly with its back turned towards it. Likewise, Malvolio is made to seem mad and abandoned in that false-mad state by those who put him there in the first place. For Fry, who has spoken about his experiences with bi-polar disorder, this is undoubtedly a poignant issue for him. This is perhaps why the humour with which Fry plays Malvolio is described as 'surprisingly gentle' by the ArtsDesk and as 'suitably grave' and 'dignified' by The Guardian. 

The Independent's observations were most generous and astute: "It's hardly surprising that so much of the coverage has been focused on him - a disproportion that increased when it was decided that there would be no official reviewing of the production's short recent run at the Globe," they said. "The irony is that Fry's performance - intelligently pondered, generous to the other actors, and almost studiedly not a 'star turn' by a celebrity guest artiste - is exactly the opposite in tendency. It restores balance to a play in which Malvolio's scenes can hog the limelight."

Continue reading: A Return To Form, Stephen Fry On Stage As Malvolio In The West End.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows Review


Good

Ritchie, Downey and Law are back with another manic romp that feels more like a Victorian James Bond adventure than anything about the famed Conan Doyle characters. While it has the same comical energy, it's not quite as fun as the first go-round.

Brilliant Cambridge professor Moriarty (Harris) is up to no good, taking on Holmes (Downey) by messing with those around him, including his girlfriend-nemesis Irene (McAdams) and his partner Watson (Law), who plans to retire after his upcoming wedding to Mary (Reilly). But nothing goes as planned, and Holmes and Watson are propelled into a vicious game of intrigue that sends them to Paris where they team up with a sexy gypsy (Rapace). They also get help from Holmes' brother Mycroft (Fry) as they head to a climactic showdown in Switzerland.

Who needs logic when the action is this wildly exhilarating? And much of it is drastically slowed-down so Ritchie can show us Holmes' powers of deduction as well as whizzing bullets, explosions and other cool-looking things. The dialog is the same mix of faux intelligent banter and shameless innuendo, which gives the actors something to play with, especially as Downey and Law amusingly move beyond bromance into Brokeback territory.

But we do need some logic. This plot is so messy that it never engages us. And as it builds to a climax in a crazy cliff-perched Alpine castle, we begin to lose interest. Even with the bigger action, zingy dialog and colourful characters, this film barely works up any steam. Whenever Holmes isn't being mischievous, Downey actually looks bored. And Rapace is so sidelined that it's difficult to understand why she's here at all; the filmmakers never give her anything interesting to do.

It's a shame the screenwriters never push the characters further. But at least Ritchie keeps things moving briskly, filling the screen with comical nuttiness and big-gun mayhem. Even if Moriarty makes no sense (would someone this intelligent resort to such a ridiculous plan to make his fortune?), Harris adds heft in the role, including some jagged chemistry with Downey. Let's just hope that the requisite third film lets us in on the joke.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows Trailer


In 1892, the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead; his death is ruled as suicide, according to Scotland Yard detective Inspector Lestrade. But Sherlock Holmes knows that this isn't true: all the evidence suggests that the Crown Prince was murdered, by one Professor Moriarty, whose genius is matched only by Holmes'.

Continue: Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows Trailer

Alice In Wonderland Trailer


Watch the trailer for Alice In Wonderland

Continue: Alice In Wonderland Trailer

Stephen Fry

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Stephen Fry

Date of birth

24th August, 1957

Occupation

TV Presenter

Sex

Male

Height

1.96




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