Stephen Fry begged Jeopardy bosses not to dumb down UK show

14 December 2023

Stephen Fry begged ITV bosses not to dumb down the UK version of 'Jeopardy!'

Stephen Fry begged ITV bosses not to dumb down the UK version of Jeopardy!

The 66-year-old former 'QI' host is due to front a new edition of the long running US game show on New Year's Day, which will see him challenge contestants to win money by phrasing answers as a question, and he was adamant that its formula should not be changed for British audiences.

As quoted by the Daily Star newspaper's Hot TV column, he said: "I was fairly insistent from the outset that we shouldn't compromise one the standard and or dicker about with the rules and procedures, which are time-honoured and proven.

"Fortunately, ITV and the production company behind the series were in complete agreement. It’s not very different at all.

"The only real difference is that the UK version is a little longer with an extra round."

With plenty of cash up for grabs, the 'Blackadder' actor emphasised that a talented contestant could walk away from the programme with a huge sum of money.

He said: "It builds and builds for as long as the champion stays on. In theory, a really brilliant champion could win hundreds of thousands of pounds or more."

Although he is excitedly counting down the days for 'Jeopardy!' to begin, the comedian's health was put at risk when he suffered a horror fall in September.

Stephen broke his pelvis, leg, and several ribs after he fell of the stage at London's O2 arena, and the surgeon who operated on him revealed it could have been much worse.

Speaking to Ed Balls and Susanna Reid on ITV's 'Good Morning Britain', he previously said: "It was pretty nasty. I broke my leg in two places, my pelvis in four places and a bunch of ribs, so it was really quite serious.

“I was giving this lecture. When I finished I took my bow and walked off stage not knowing that the bulk of the stage I was walking on had a six foot drop onto concrete. It was grim.

“The orthopedic surgeon made it clear that he was dealing with people who had had a fall from lesser heights, who might not walk again.

“The two things that you don't want to hit are your skull or your spine. And I was very fortunate that I didn't, so there was no suggestion of either cognitive impairment.”