Actor, writer and national treasure Stephen Fry is preparing to host the BAFTAs for a 10th time, but told London Live’s Entertainment Producer Simon Thompson it will be his last.
Fry said: “They're probably going to replace me, if not before this particular one... but I think that might be pushing it, straight afterwards. I never take it for granted, it's nice to do, but I can fully see why they would probably want someone new very soon.”
He added that being regarded as something of an institution in the world of BAFTA was a little strange: “It's a peculiar feeling and I mustn't let it get to me. I don't really feel it or think it and if people say it to me, I think I'm delighted. It suggests age with some sort of lichen incrustation with maybe some sort of railing built around me.”
The actor also weighed in on the battle between Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch. The two British stars have both seen startling success in biopics this year. Redmayne has won praise for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking, while Cumberbatch drew much admiration for his representation of heroic code-breaker, Alan Turing.
Fry refused to be drawn into making a decision on who would win, saying: “It's the Eton/Harrow match isn't it? Eddie 'Eton' Redmayne or Benedict 'Harrow' Cumberbatch. I think both of them have huge constituencies no question about it. In the past Benedict Cumberbatch's has been the louder but I think Eddie Redmayne's come up on the inside pretty heftily.”
