Alan Davies has revealed that Stephen Fry quit QI because the filming schedule left him exhausted.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Alan explained that BBC cuts forced the team to make three episodes a day, leaving Stephen feeling completely worn out.

"For budget reasons, they ended up making him do three shows in 24 hours," he said. "Sometimes he'd go upstairs and have a vodka and tonic and a lie down, then come back and say, 'I don't want to do this'.

"I sympathise, because I felt exactly the same way. It's not fair."

Brian Ritchie/Talkback BBC

But Alan said that while it was "absolutely right" for Stephen to step down, he personally never really considered leaving QI – unless the producers wanted him to go.

"With three small children and a mortgage, I'd be an idiot to jump ship," he said. "It's one of the best jobs on the telly.

"I offered to go if they wanted a total clearout and I'm sure they thought about it, but they kept me there."

Alan also praised new host Sandi Toksvig, describing her as a "really good replacement" and adding: "There's a good atmosphere around the show.

Brian Ritchie/Talkback BBC

"I had a great time making the show. I was funny. I actually have a bit more room!"

However, he misses having Stephen on the show, adding: "People have no idea just how good he was.

"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, sharp."

The new series of QI is currently airing on Fridays at 10pm on BBC Two, with extended version QI XL airing on Sundays at 10.20pm on BBC Two.

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