Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

Stephen Fry at the BAFTAS

(21 Posts)
specki4eyes Tue 10-Feb-15 20:13:37

What is so great about Stephen Fry that guarantees him the job of hosting the BAFTAS? I find his style unfunny, smug and so vulgar. Who cares that he is gay and just got married? Heterosexual presenters don't feel the need to flag up their love life on high profile platforms. I can't understand why some gay men like to constantly refer to their homosexuality, as if its worthy of an award.

Stephen Fry's language was disgusting, inappropriate and unworthy of the event. And to impersonate Stephen Hawking was appalling.

I have a few gay friends - they just quietly get on with their lives and don't feel the need to display their sexuality overtly.

merlotgran Tue 10-Feb-15 20:31:49

Well said, specki. We were cringeing.

NfkDumpling Tue 10-Feb-15 20:32:39

I quite like Stephen Fry but don't watch the BAFTAS. Sounds as if he had an off day and made a bit of a chump of himself.

Tegan Tue 10-Feb-15 20:48:05

Must admit that I quite enjoyed it and it's only in retrospect that it was, in fact, rather vulgar. If he wasn't gay and had a glamorous young wife he wouldn't have been speaking like that. I was so chuffed to see Jack [local boy made good] O'Connell win the 'best newcomer' award. Mind you, I was watching The Grammies last night and wondered why American awards ceremonies seemed to be in such a time warp [and why everyone uses James Corden, who is a good actor but rubbish at things like this].

TerriBull Tue 10-Feb-15 21:05:10

I agree, I stopped watching Jonathan Ross for the same reason, too much about wife, kids and family pets etc., quite aside from the fact that he was unnecessarily rude and lavatorial. I prefer Graham Norton because he doesn't talk about himself. Stephen Fry is another one, why does he think everyone is so interested in his love life for heaven sake. On and on about "me! me! me!" and a tad more about.....oh yeah that would be "me again!" hence all the books. Before Twitter became common knowledge, I first heard about it via Stephen Fry, tweeting about being stuck a lift, how fascinating! Stephen Fry please put a sock in it!

GillT57 Tue 10-Feb-15 21:19:28

I quite like Stephen Fry, and admire his campaigning for ending homophobic discrimination and for his frank discussion of his mental health problems. But....I didnt enjoy his presentation of the awards, he was vulgar and used the f word a bit too much for my liking. I did also think that the over enthusiastic emphasis on being gay was a bit too much, if a heterosexual man of his age had made similar comments to women and demanded kisses as he did from the male guests he would have been branded a lecherous old -sod man.

loopylou Tue 10-Feb-15 21:45:34

Hear, hear TerriBull
I refuse to watch anything Jonathan Ross or Stephen Fry are on.

NanKate Tue 10-Feb-15 21:58:16

Can I add to the hear hears and add Russell Brand, another waste of space as far as I am concerned?

I am sick to death of hearing about the love lives of all these so called celebrities. hmm

Greyduster Tue 10-Feb-15 22:53:44

I can't watch anything with Stephen Fry in it. I started one of his books once and found it to be the biggest load of egocentric rubbish I had ever set eyes on. I don't know how he justifies his existence on television these days.

Tegan Tue 10-Feb-15 23:00:45

I love watching QI.

durhamjen Tue 10-Feb-15 23:18:14

I read somewhere that someone thought the Stephen Hawking impersonation was in bad taste. I got the impression that Hawking knew about it. Hawking had made a comment about Stephen Fry first, so I thought it was just banter between the two of them.
Has Stephen Hawking complained?

whenim64 Wed 11-Feb-15 00:07:28

Yes, I thought it was banter, as Stephen Hawking said earlier he was better looking than Stephen Fry. I got the impression people were supportive of the frivolity in the light of SF's recent marriage after suffering some dismal years with depression. It's good to see him enjoying life. I don't like stuffy award ceremonies, especially when winners get all worthy and make profound speeches. SF set the tone for the evening. Don't agree with him flirting and asking for kisses but some if it was started by other willing men.

Tegan Wed 11-Feb-15 00:22:30

I notice he stayed well away from Tom Cruise and didn't make any comments that could offend him [of which there could, potentially, be many wink]. Although there was something he said quite early on that might have been a dig hmm.

KatyK Wed 11-Feb-15 10:57:41

I agree. I think Stephen Fry has 'got above himself' as they used to say. Some of these celebrities seem to get carried away with all the praise that is heaped on them. I think he is pompous and quite frankly a bit creepy.

rubylady Wed 11-Feb-15 11:42:18

The photos of him with his now husband do look very odd. I am not against age gap relationships, I had one myself for a while, but the young man looks terribly uncomfortable from the photos I have seen and it does look quite strange. He is a young writer and comedian and has been overwhelmed meeting people like George Clooney, Al Pacino, David Cameron, Jimmy Carr etc. In my opinion it looks like he is using Stephen to get his career off the ground and Stephen is more than happy to be used by a man 30 years his junior and is currently acting like Tom Cruise did when he bounced up and down on Oprah's settee. Wierd. But, with his history of mental health, I just hope it does not all come crashing down around his ears. It will be devastating.

I used to watch QI but it has gone too much teacherish for me these days, it's like being in a lecture.

KatyK Wed 11-Feb-15 12:38:46

I agree rubylady, the young man looks uncomfortable but then it is his decision.

Katek Wed 11-Feb-15 12:44:36

I too cannot understand why Mr Fry has to bandy his sexuality about as if it's a unique achievement. I also have many gay friends (sounds like a cliche I know, but it's true) who just quietly get on with living their lives and don't make a song and dance out of their sexuality. It's only an element of who they are - not their raison d'être. In fact I am best person/matron of honour at my gay friends' wedding later this year.

There is a transgender male-female living in our village with his/her wife who flies the rainbow flag from the house. I'm struggling to get my head around the ramifications of that one.

I also discovered that there is a heterosexual flag should anyone feel like waving it!!

granjura Wed 11-Feb-15 12:51:23

Ouch- I like SF and think he is very intelligent. Didn't see the Bafta so can't comment. Just had a look at pictures of his wedding, and yes, have to say it made me jump- as his husband looks just like a confused kid. If they are happy- good for them- but it all does look odd.

POGS Wed 11-Feb-15 13:41:36

Well he is like Jonathan Ross/Brand/Clarkson in the context they are Marmite people.

The problem is I like them when they make me laugh, I like them when they are talking in a serious , intellectual way. However they make me think they are utter ' prats' when they behave like children.

He is bi polar isn't he?, like many people, but does that always mean he should always have a let off clause for crass behaviour?

Tegan Wed 11-Feb-15 13:54:04

Still think our Jack outstaged thelotofem!

PRINTMISS Wed 11-Feb-15 15:01:00

We only watched a little of the awards, not keen on all that 'thanks to everyone stuff'. I quite like Stephen Fry, but admit he does go on a bit about his sexuality and his language is sometimes dreadful; I think he has a very nice speaking voice (I know he should!) and it is a pity he sometimes find in necessary to indulge in bad language when he has an obviously good grasp of English.