Sir Stephen Fry has revealed he was “preposterously nervous” while competing in the upcoming celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, set to premiere later this month. The renowned actor, screenwriter, and author admitted feeling the weight of expectations, given his reputation as a “know-all.”
Facing the Pressure
The 67-year-old, known for hosting the long-running quiz show QI, described the heightened stakes of the high-profile competition:
“They upped the music to get your heartbeat to go up a little bit faster,” he shared. “For good or ill, people think of me as some sort of ‘know-all,’ so there was pressure on me not to make mistakes.”
Sir Stephen confessed that while he received a well-balanced set of questions, some topics pushed him out of his comfort zone, including sports and pop music.
“There was a very early question about Pharrell Williams, and I knew nothing about it,” he said, adding, “There are different strengths we have and different weaknesses, and there is no shame in it.”
Competing for Charity
Competing to raise money for the mental health charity Mind, for which he has been president since 2011, Sir Stephen reflected on the supportive atmosphere:
“The audience were lovely, very warm, very appreciative. It was nice to feel they were on your side,” he said, encouraging others to take part in the quiz show, noting, “It’s not about exposing ignorance. Anything is better than nothing when it comes to charity.”
New Season of Millionaire
The celebrity edition, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, will feature other famous faces, including former sprinter Jeanette Kwakye, broadcaster Richie Anderson, Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke, Channel 4 anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy, and ex-BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin.
The series begins Sunday, January 26, at 8pm on ITV.
Sir Stephen’s Advocacy
Sir Stephen’s participation aligns with his ongoing mental health advocacy, which has earned him widespread acclaim. In 2006, he shared his personal journey in the documentary Stephen Fry’s The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive. He was also knighted in the recent New Year Honours for his contributions to mental health awareness, environmental causes, and charity.
