to find Stephen Fry downright dull and tedious when hosting award shows?

[Lottapianos]

He got right on my thrupenny bits during the BAFTAs last night, droning on and on with his unfunny drivel instead of just flipping well getting on with it. Helena B-C looked very unamused when he made some crappy joke about her bursting into song without even having a drink first - har bloody har

How on earth can he be considered a 'national treasure' (whatever that means) rather than a vain smug misogynist twit?

I know he's very Marmite so I'm prepared to be flamed

I beg to differ op! I thought he was great last night and very passionate about film, whereas usually he is too clever by half.

He's downright dull and tedious when not hosting award shows, so why did you expect any different?

I think he does a great job, articulate and sounds great.

Much better than Jonathan Ross hosted when he hosted.

I agree.

I said on another thread that I found him very pretentious, waffly and self-indulgent.

Every time he announced a guest it was '...who I worked with in 1986' or something similar.

I'm sure most Americans haven't got a clue who is.

Stephen Fry is a smug twat.

I think he's lovely.

Also, are you aware that he's very self conscious and takes things like this to heart? I think this is a bit mean tbh.

God I agree OP - I thought he was pompous, rambling and dull.

I thought he was embarrassing to watch. What the hell do non-Brits make of such ramshackle overblown nonsense I wonder.

Hopefully someone else will do it next year, but SF has got this tiresome National Treasure Polymath status for some reason so I doubt it.

I kinda agree but its against the law to say anything bad about Sir Stephen of Fry so prepare your hard hat. I used to like him but I now think if he was chocolate he would eat himself.

yup, you said it ! as for totally up himself J.Ross ? ugg ! was good once ,long time ago.

I thought he did a good job.

Nancy66 - this is a British institution, so I wouldn't think it matters if he's not well known in America. (British Academy of Film and TV awards)

He is a performer in the public eye. I am not making any personal comments, just commenting on what I considered to be a dated and dull performance.

I can't imagine in a million years he reads Mumsnet or would consider the opinion of a bunch of women as at all relevant to his life.

'I thought he was embarrassing to watch'

Me too actually - no idea what the non-Brits must have made of him.

'I used to like him but I now think if he was chocolate he would eat himself. '

You are so right

I'm sure most Americans haven't got a clue who he is

Who cares? No, they probably haven't, but the audience for the Baftas is mainly British. Americans in film and in the audience would probably know who he is, and even if they didn't, meh.

I didn't see the awards but I like Stephen Fry, he comes across as a genuinely nice person.

Stephen Fry is wonderful and I'll not hear a bad word said. He's an international treasure never mind a national one. I agee with icingontop. As for that eejit Jonathon Ross who can't pronounce his 'r's for Pete's sake spare us .

Yes, Bafta is British it has international cohort of nominees and members who are non-brits.

I love Stephen Fry, but actually thought he looked really uncomfortable last night - physically shaking at some points - like just standing there was too much.

Anyone in another country with half a brain has heard of Stephen Fry

Chocoluvva - it's an international awards show. The BAFTAS have spent years trying (and mosty failing) to make the BAFTAS into a credible, important part of award season. They changed the timing of it so it was pre-Oscars (it always used to be after them) and they separated the film and TV awards to concentrate solely on film.

...but one look at the American press today tells you that nobody outside the UK really gives a toss about the BAFTAS.

All award ceremonies are mind numbingly dull in my opinion and not even an intelligent and articulate man like Stephen Fry can make them interesting in my opinion.

It has been better recently since they split the TV from the film. At least a lot of the international (read American) nominees now turn up. They used to be all gathered in LA in a bar or something and recieve their awards via videolink.

But it's very dull. What the hell was that ghastly display from Paloma Faith and the X Factor backing singers all about?

I can't imagine in a million years he reads Mumsnet or would consider the opinion of a bunch of women as at all relevant to his life.

It's unlikely, but I can't help thinking of the time someone called him boring on twitter and he was really hurt by it, and left.

Isnt' he constantly storming off Twitter and then storming back on about a week later?

you are right icingontop, these things have a way of getting about. I think it is a risk, and he would be hurt, as would anyone, reading that someone thought they were dull and boring or twattish

I find him really smug and irritating these days. He's just on TV too much now. And his comments during the MP expenses scandal made me quite . I think it shows a lack of imagination having him fronting these things. There must be someone more suitable?!

I agree OP , he is totally self obsessed and needs to get over himself. As for the person upthread who considers it ok to take the piss out of J Ross ; yes he is a pratt, but I don't think it's on to ridicule a speech defect.