Stephen Fry shares his nerves and pressure while competing on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for charity
London: Sir Stephen Fry recently opened up about feeling “preposterously nervous” while filming the new series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. He mentioned that some folks see him as a “know-all,” which added to the pressure.
He’s set to make his debut on the celebrity edition of the quiz show, which kicks off later this month. Alongside him will be former sprinter Jeanette Kwakye and broadcaster Richie Anderson, all competing for their favorite charities.
Reflecting on his nerves, Stephen said they cranked up the music to get everyone’s heart racing. He felt the weight of expectations, admitting that people often think he should know everything.
At 67, he’s hosted shows like QI, but he reminded everyone that not knowing an answer doesn’t define your worth. He felt his heart racing as the questions rolled in, and while some were tricky, he enjoyed the variety.
He joked about some questions being outside his expertise, especially the sports ones. Luckily, he managed to answer a cycling question correctly, but he confessed he was lost on a Pharrell Williams question.
Stephen emphasized that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and there’s no shame in that. The audience was warm and supportive, which made the experience even better.
He participated in the show to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind, which he’s been president of since 2011. After his experience, he encouraged others to join in, stressing that it’s not about shaming anyone but rather about supporting good causes.
Stephen has been candid about his own mental health struggles, including his bipolar disorder. He even hosted a BBC program on the topic back in 2006.
Recently, he received a knighthood for his contributions to mental health awareness and charity work. It’s clear he’s passionate about making a difference.
By the way, the new series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is set to air on ITV starting January 26 at 8 PM. It’ll feature other stars like Anton Du Beke and Krishnan Guru-Murthy, so it should be a fun watch!
