Stephen Fry talks of his depression

Stephen Fry has spoken about the depths of his depression that meant he has ‘wanted to die’ while recording episodes of QI.

The comedian acknowledged that he lived a charmed life and had nothing to be unhappy about – but that his illness did not recognize that.

‘When we talk about depression we are not taking about being in a bit of a bad mood where a nice bit of poetry and nature can help, I am talking about being a de-energised lump,’ he told the Telegraph Hay festival.

‘It is unreasonable for me to be unhappy. I have had one of the luckiest careers of my generation. There is no one I have not met, nothing I have not done. I am overpraised and overpaid. I have no reason to be unsatisfied with my life and all it has given me, indeed most of the time I am happy – but there are times when I want to slash my throat.’

‘I have done whole episodes of QI where I have wanted to die. My lips are moving but I do not want to be.’

He was speaking at a session in aid of the Samaritans to try to lessen the stigma attached to the illness, and said employees should not be allowed to sack people for being depressed.

Published: 5 Jun 2012