Presenter to leave BBC2 show after 13 years and is replaced by Sandi Toksvig – the first female host of a mainstream comedy panel show

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Stephen Fry is to step down as presenter of BBC2’s long-running QI and will be replaced by former News Quiz host, Sandi Toksvig.

Toksvig will become the first female host of a mainstream comedy panel show on British TV.



Fry has fronted the show, which features regular panellist Alan Davies, for 13 years and 180 episodes. He described it as “one of the best jobs on television”.

Toksvig, who recently stepped down as presenter of Radio 4’s News Quiz after 10 years, said earlier this year she was turned down as the original host of another BBC panel game, Have I Got News For You, because she was a woman.

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The BBC has looked to put more women on its panel shows, with an edict by outgoing director of television Danny Cohen last year that each programme had to have at least one female panellist.

Toksvig said it wasn’t the answer and called on the BBC to “get more female hosts” instead. Now it has one.

Fry was originally slated to be a team captain opposite Davies with Monty Python star Michael Palin in the presenter’s chair, but switched jobs at the last minute “just for the pilot”.



Fry said: “For thirteen years I had one of the best jobs on television.



“Behind the camera squadrons of quite extraordinarily brilliant researchers, programme makers and uniquely curious (in both senses of the word) people making that job so much easier.



“In front of the camera generations of lively minds and above all of course the wonder of nature that is Alan Davies.”

The brainchild of former Blackadder and Not The Nine O’Clock News producer John Lloyd, QI – or “Quite Interesting” – began in 2003 on BBC2 and BBC4, briefly switching to BBC1.

Taking each letter of the alphabet in turn for the inspiration for each series, the next series, “M”, will be Fry’s last.

Fry added: “After passing the alphabetical halfway mark I thought it time to move on, but I will never cease to be grateful to John Lloyd for devising QI and for everyone else for making it such fun.”

Toksvig, an old friend and Cambridge University contemporary of Fry, said: “QI is my favourite television programme both to watch and to be on, so this is absolutely my dream job.

“Stephen has been utterly brilliant with the first half of the alphabet. Now I look forward to picking up the baton, mixing my metaphors and sailing towards the Land of Nod (ie Z). Who knows what lies ahead? It should all be quite interesting.”

Davies, standup comic and star of BBC1’s Jonathan Creek, will continue as a permanent panellist.

John Lloyd said Fry’s departure was “the end of an era”.

“It’s been a thoroughly delightful experience. After more than 40 years in broadcasting, QI has been by far the most enjoyable show it has been my privilege to produce, and Stephen has been its big, beating heart,” said Lloyd.

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“Though we are all very sad he’s decided to move on, I am confident that we have found the perfect person to occupy his gigantic shoes. Sandi will be the first female host of a mainstream comedy panel show on British television – an appointment that is well overdue.”

There are other BBC panel shows with women presenters – including Sue Barker on BBC1’s A Question of Sport and Victoria Coren on BBC2’s Only Connect. However, these shows are not strictly of the “comedy” variety, although their devotees may beg to differ.

BBC2 controller, Kim Shillinglaw, said Toksvig was “exactly the kind of bright, brilliant company I want to see on BBC2”.

