After using a blaring klaxon to shame guests and viewer’s general ignorance of trivia spanning the first half of the alphabet, Stephen Fry is leaving QI at the end of its new ‘M’ series, which starts on the BBC this Friday. Sandi Toksvig, a regular panellist, will replace him for the next series, due to air in the Spring and Summer of 2016.
"For thirteen years I had one of the best jobs on television,” Fry said of his role as the show’s quizmaster.
“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. 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 QIand for everyone else for making it such fun," he added.
Toksvig (back right) regularly appears on the show [BBC]
In a statement, producers say: "His sparkling wit, charm and effortless erudition have taken QI on a rip-roaring, award-winning ride across four BBC channels - BBC Four, BBC Two, BBC One and Dave - and to international acclaim all over the world, educating the nation by stealth and bringing a new kind of general knowledge - 'General Ignorance' - to a whole generation."
Danish-born writer and presenter Toksvig, who studied with Fry while they were both at Cambridge and who both own a production company together, said she was delighted to take over the MC post.
"QI is my favourite television programme both to watch and to be on, so this is absolutely my dream job,” she said.
"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 (i.e. Z). Who knows what lies ahead? It should all be quite interesting."
Alan Davies will continue as the show's resident panellist, and the butt of many jokes. The new series of QI starts on BBC Two on Friday evening.
