MovieChat Forums > QI (2003) Discussion > If Stephen Fry decided to quit QI

If Stephen Fry decided to quit QI


First of all: I am a HUGE Stephen Fry fan. Of his books, his acting, documentaries etc. So I hope he never quits QI!


But if he did, would the show die? Or who could you imagine taking over the show?

I am not British or even from an English speaking country, so I have a very limited knowledge about hosts/comediens etc. in Britain.

Tell me your suggestions and I will google them :)

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I think Terry Jones would be a great choice. Like Fry, he's a performer, author, director, and all-around intellectual.

I'd like to be a pessimist, but this is a luxury I cannot afford.—Joseph of Cordoba

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I always thought Dara Ó Briain would be a perfect QI host if Stephen Fry ever decided to call it quits.

Make tea, not war. 🌈

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Sandy Toksvig



She's a man, it's a sled, he's dead already.

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Weirdly she popped into my head too

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Good guess. Sandy it is, according to John Lloyd last week.

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I think the show would die without the original cast, it would probably potter on for a couple of seasons without stephen fry, and eventually die,

but dara seems like a good host, but he is the long running host of mock the week and lots of other shows, so who knows ife he would have the time

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They could always go with Michael Palin, the original choice for host.

The problem is that the host needs to be someone convincingly clever - even if they're just reading from cards or having information relayed to them in an earpiece - without being too overtly intellectual. Stephen Fry's both clever and avuncular, obviously intelligent but willing to poke fun at himself, so he's a perfect fit.

I'm really not sure of anyone else who fits - John Cleese? But perhaps he'd be a bit too "spiky", too much the irritable headmaster rather than the "come on, you know you can do better" teacher that Fry comes across as.

www.jumpedtheshark.co.uk

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Wasn't it Michael Palin who said no when they were first casting? If so, I doubt he'd be willing now. (On the other hand, maybe these days he'd be happy with a desk job.)

I don't think Dara's right for the gig, even though I enjoy his manner and intelligence. One possibility who springs to mind for me is Victoria Coren Mitchell.



You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

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David Mitchell would be the one.

He's a regular, very clever, very funny and has hosted a similar show on radio.

Richard Osman would be another good choice.

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Agree on both choices, let us see how Sany does.

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Indeed, she seems to be a good choice. She is able to disappear into the back when not necessary, without all the ego issues comedians usually have and also should get along with Alan (although I wonder how long Alan will stay; it is a nice steady job but at some point I would guess he would want to move on as well).

I am so glad they did not go with guest hosts.

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I know Wikipedia isn't always right ...

... but in episode 8 of the latest M series, it lists Sandi Toksvig as a guest. As we all now know, she is the new host. Could this mean, possibly, that Stephen Fry will return for this episode ... as a guest/contestant? That would be interesting to see how he goes on the opposite end of the questions. I mean, we know how clever he is, but how many traps might he fall into!

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Fry quits after M, so he will be the host. I wonder if they already knew when taping them. Should make an interesting episode.

There is an episode of The Unbelievable Truth with the QI team, including Stephen Fry. If you want to see him walking into traps, you might like to give it a try.

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tb-sch wrote:

There is an episode of The Unbelievable Truth with the QI team, including Stephen Fry. If you want to see him walking into traps, you might like to give it a try.

That's the New Year's Eve (or is it Day?) episode isn't it, with Rob Brydon, Alan Davies and Jonh Lloyd? It's one of my favourite episodes of "The Unbelievable Truth" - I love Stephen Fry's roar of laughter when the QI klaxon goes off at Alan's first - and incorrect! - guess.

Can't say I'm too thrilled about Sandi Toksvig as a presenter, as I find her insufferably smug and self-righteous. Perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised when her episodes air, although I do find myself already wishing they'd gone back to their original choice of Michael Palin.

www.jumpedtheshark.co.uk

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[deleted]

Really weird one.:S I never minded Sandi as a guest, but I really doubt I could take her as the host.:S

I do wonder, will they give her a FEMALE goofball sidekick? Now that I'd love to see.:) I'd love to see how they'd go about that. For some reason, I cannot imagine they'd dare use a female 'whipping boy':D

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Really weird one.:S I never minded Sandi as a guest, but I really doubt I could take her as the host.:S


I agree! Although I think Sandi is a very likeable and intelligent person, I don't think she's got what it takes to be a great panel show host. At least she wasn't very good as a host on "What The Dickens?".
I know it's good for the image of the show to have an intellectual (or at least smart) host, but (s)he also needs to be able to maintain the mood and dynamics of the show, and of course must be comfortable in dealing with the auto-cue, cards and an ear piece.
Just take a look at the many guest hosts of shows like HIGNFY or Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Some of them are usually very funny, smart and enjoyable as guests but fail as hosts, while some otherwise less exciting people handle the situation remarkably well.
E.g. I think David Mitchell is very much the same as Sandi, I really love him as a guest at panel shows but as a host of his two own shows he didn't excite me at all.

Dara Ó Briain is a good host (but I wouldn't want to miss him on "Mock the Week"), Frank Skinner is a pretty good host who IMHO might have been a better choice than Sandi. Mark Lamarr is great (I'd really like to see him again) and I really love Martin Clunes whenever he hosts HIGNFY, I think he might be a good replacement for Stephen (he doesn't only have the required technical skills, he's also polite, funny, sometimes also bit cheeky/naughty and isn't too attention grabbing, plus he's got a quite nice voice too). Jack Dee and Stephen Mangan aren't that bad as hosts either (but I'm not sure how they would fit QI).

Some people suggested Michael Palin and Terry Jones, I could definitely see them as hosts and think they might be brilliant but if you want them to do the whole missing seasons N-Z they might be a bit too old.

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Just what I thought as well. Fry would come across the same way when just appearing in single episodes. They seem so much alike.

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Oh, goodie, more lectures.

stfu about fking avatars already.

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They only gave the job to Sandi after she bitched about some political correctness crap there being a shortage of women. Yeah Sandi would love an all women panel. I thought Brits were better than falling for this crap.

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I'll direct you to John Lloyd's Reddit Interview from two years back, where he addressed this very issue:

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1ter8t/i_am_john_lloyd_tv_and_radio_producer_blackadder/


Q: If Stephen was to step down as host of QI, who do you think would be the best person for the job?
A: I truly hope it doesn't happen, but in that event I think either Sandi Toksvig or David Mitchell would be brilliant. Of course, if neither of them are available, I'm willing to step up to the plate myself."'

So this isn't a surprise. I'll miss Stephen, I really will. The show won't be the same without him. But I'll give Sandi a chance. She is intelligent and funny, the two main characteristics profiled and heralded by the show. She is similar to Stephen in many respects: knowledgeable in a number of categories, without necessarily being tied to/possessing "expertise" in any of them. And she's a great anecdotist. Seriously, she's probably nervous enough as it is, she has big shoes to fill.

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i can't see her getting along with Davies for too long, originally when i saw this thread i though, pah, fry will finish to Z at least but i guess 17 years hosting a panel show and on of the most intelligent panel shows/ or any shows for that matter on television
I hope fry does apear from time to time as a guest cuz seeing him on the other end of the shaft would be funny, especially when he falls into traps,
Sandy might just be a little Politically Correct,
David Mitchel would have done great, and having Coren-Mitchel, fry, davies, and carr with David as host would be a romp,
I wouldn't mind if Jimmy Carr hosted, but he doesn't come across as intellectual enough,
Bill Bailey anyone?

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What makes the show great is the banter that Fry dishes out, Sandi doesn't have that and the show will be far too serious. Not sure if I'll carry on watching once Fry leaves.

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Sadly, Sandy Toksvig is taking over as host :(

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[deleted]

I have enjoyed Sandi Toksvig as a host. She's smart, has a quick wit and a great sense of humour, in my opinion. (Of couse nobody beats Stephen Fry in those qualities :() But Sandi Toksvig has done a great job. And as a fellow Skandinavian I especially enjoy the Scandinavian touch she brings in every episode. :)

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At this point I have to admit that I think Stephen went at the right time. One thing Sandi brings along is a certain patience. After 12 years, Stephen started cutting the banter short to get the answers out, and Sandi seems to have a great way to let the conversation flow without it getting out of control. The final episodes of this season felt really fresh.

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I don't think David Mitchell could play out his overthinking routine as a host, as he would have the right answers in his ear and on the screen.
Jimmy Carr is too self-centered. Which is perfect for the formats he is on, but QI needs a bodyless moderator who can become a ghost occasionally, and that simply is not Carr's quality.

With Toksvig they already made the most Fry-ish choice possible. I don't think she is any less or more politically correct than Fry (when has he ever been politically incorrect?), she might even be a bit meaner to the guests, which makes me worry a bit about Alan and his role as the court jester.

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[deleted]

David Mitchell. His scathing, reprimanding logic would never get old.


...then whoa, differences...

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Yes, I love it when David Mitchell is in an episode. I think he would have been a great choice as host. I'm looking forward to seeing how Sandy works out. I guess I'll find out soon enough!



FYI, Newsgroupie refers to my being an avid Usenet user, not a news hound.

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Sandy did okay, it was a bit weird not have Fry hosting the show, but I think she will do fine :)

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Agreed. Having regularly listened to her present The News Quiz for years, I thought she was an obvious choice for QI, and the latest episode only reinforced that opinion. I look forward to seeing her settle in!

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I love her. She's doing a great job. When I first heard she was going to take over, I was sceptical but it all turned out just great.

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