Fry to be honoured with international award

Stephen Fry is to be be honoured with an international TV award for lifetime achievement.

The Rose d'Or award, handed out by the Eurovision organisation of broadcasters, recognises someone who has made an outstanding contribution to broadcasting throughout their career.

Fry said he was delighted by the honour. 'It does mean a lot,' he said. 'Since I can remember watching television, the Golden Rose of Montreux, and occasionally Lucerne, really meant something, and it's always gone out of its way to recognise this particular kind of television, so if they've honoured me, then I feel exactly that - honoured.'

He also tweeted: '*blush* *giggle* *simper* - thank you very much, nice Golden Rose people.'

Fry won a Rose d'Or Award in 2006 for best game show host for QI, from which he is now stepping down, to be replaced by Sandi Toksvig.

Jean Philip De Tender, director of media at the European Broadcasting Union, said: 'Stephen Fry represents all that is best about entertainment broadcasting in the UK, throughout Europe and across the globe.

'Not only has he entertained generations and made us laugh, he has also, through his documentary work, shone light on challenging issues such as mental health. It's only fitting that the industry will show its appreciation for him in London on December 9 with an award that represents the gold standard.'

Awards host Paddy O'Connell, noted Fry's generosity in helping others in the industry. 'It's a pretty unusual talent on top of his other unusual talents, because he is altruistic,' he said.

'If there's one thing I've learned, the television business does have a habit of eating people up and spitting them out. And Stephen Fry has tried to remember to be good to people and also that the industry is made up of many, many thousands of people who don't get the credit. For me, I'm pleased that someone who has tried to put in the occasional word for the work of others is being honoured in London."

Stephen Fry's television career started in comedy 1982, coming to special prominence with A Bit of Fry and Laurie with Hugh Laurie between 1986 and 1995. He appeared in several series of Blackadder and as the butler Jeeves in the television adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's series Jeeves and Wooster. He has presented documentaries on depression, gay rights around the world, language and natural history, among others. And his film career has included Peter's Friends, Wilde and Gosford Park.

Earlier this month it was announced that British comedies dominate this year’s Rose d'Or comedy shortlists, honouring everyone from veterans of Monty Python to the newcomers of Newsjack.

Published: 19 Nov 2015