STEPHEN FRY has stepped down as the host of the Bafta film awards.
He said in a statement: “Every one of the 12 Bafta film award ceremonies that I had the privilege of hosting has a place in my memory. The mixture of glamour, glory, drama and – occasionally – embarrassment and hiccup holds a unique place in the British film calendar.
“Over the last two decades I have especially loved watching the emergence of new young film talent behind and in front of the camera. But after so long a time I felt it only right to stand down and let others take the Baftas on to new heights and greater glories.
“I want to thank all the production staff, Amanda Berry and her wonderful Bafta colleagues, the BBC and all those who helped make every year so enjoyable.
Bafta announces EE Rising Star nominees – find out how to vote for your favourite breakthrough act
“I reserve especial gratitude and imagination for Ivor Baddiel and Phil Kerr, whose work on the scripts was so skillful it made people think I’d written every line myself.
“What fun it will be to watch Bafta 2018 without my heart hammering, mouth drying and knees trembling.”
The new host will be announced alongside the nominations next week.
Bafta’s chief executive Amanda Berry said: “On behalf of everyone at Bafta, I would like to sincerely thank Stephen Fry for making each and every one of the Film Awards that he’s presented such memorable and joyous occasions. We will miss him tremendously.
“We will reveal who our host for the 2018 Awards will be on Tuesday January 9 at our nominations press conference.”
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe