Stephen Fry on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight: INTERVIEW

To celebrate our 10th season, we're taking a look back at some classic interviews from the vault. This week, George's chat with actor, writer and quiz show host Stephen Fry.
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight airs weeknights at 7 and 11:30 pm on CBC Television
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[@ConnorJamming494]

the guy interviewing stephen fry is really good and asks interesting questions and doesnt ruin everyones anecdotes by making lame jokes ( david letterman), american presenters need to be more like him.

[@bbutterfly36]

It's why we Canadians are so proud of our George! He's great at what he does!

[@ConnorJamming494]

oh he's not American, that does explain a lot. I agree with you there

[@lMrFresno559l]

bbutterfly36 If you are an American citizen, you are an American. Thats the way America works. We are all from somewhere else. My mom is from Holland. Shes an American now.

[@bbutterfly36]

LeonAmarantos That is what is great about Canada, we are from everywhere and we celebrate our differences... we don't pretend to be homogenous...well most anyways. :P Can you tell I love my country? hehe.

[@hbtcflucky7301]

***** what about people with dual citizenship? you can have more than one passport

[@RunningLemonStudios]

I could listen to Stephen Fry speak for days.

[@ThePaul1E]

Its just as terrible as saying: I love listening to Barack Obama even though Im a racist...

[@MattSingh1]

If you enjoy Fry, you should try Christopher Hitchens. If you don't like politics, or Hitchens' politics specifically, he could equally talk expertly on classic literature or philosophy.

[@stevobath]

Matthew Singh-Dosanjh Just avoid his wanker brother!

[@jacobrhodes7433]

Happy days.

[@shmookins]

There is a debate between the Hitchens brothers. There is a moment in it towards the end that I loved that showed their sibling rivalry/arguing when they mocked each others' publications. It's on youtube.

[@grilkaseyton2621]

I love the fact, the interviewer lets Stephen just talk. And when he asks something, it is an interesting question. Great interview indeed!

[@kellywilliamson63]

Stephen Fry is such a brilliant and fascinating person. Everything he says is so well-thought and genuine!

[@canadianbacon9396]

This is by far one of my favorite Strombo interviews. I've really grown to enjoy Stephen Fry's way. Very down to earth. Very honest. Very forthright. And very interested in truth. He's disarming.

[@coltsuperocean10]

Agreed, Stephen Fry is such a charming and articulate person. He is so engaging. Funny as fuck as well!

[@Glasgow_kiss]

100%. hes disarming because of his accent though. some things he says you would never think to come out of such an upper class tongue. he's very engaging and a master story teller.

[@MattSingh1]

If you enjoy this interview, be sure to watch his interview with Christopher Hitchens. He and Fry were friends, to a degree, and Hitchens was even more informed than Fry and could talk as such.

[@Glasgow_kiss]

Matthew Singh-Dosanjh I love listening to intelligent people. I love strombo. and a lot of his guests.

[@Matt-cz6ti]

Stephen Fry should narrate life. I would never tire of his voice

[@Shiva-nt3wc]

Listen to the audiobook he did for "Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy". It's heaven.

[@arricammarques1955]

Voice of Don at Cambridge. : )

[@kellypowell2595]

I honestly think Stephen Fry is one of the most intelligent and articulate people in show business.

[@Rachulie]

Stephen is the most adorable thing

[@KenStarSol]

This interviewer is great and I love Stephen Fry.

[@katesterner]

Well done, George. Skillful interview. You keep 'em on track.

[@afiomai69]

Just found George Stromboulopous on KZbin... I think I'm in Love. 🤣🥰🤣 That and the fact that Stephen Fry brought me here.

[@MWeistra]

That was just wonderful. Stephen is one of my favorite people in show business.

[@queenzakiya91]

I just love him! He knows everything about everything

[@basheeranani6250]

Brilliant interview. I love Stephen Fry's mind, and thanks to George for being a tremendously excellent interviewer. Well done.

[@salomenjeri1042]

+Basheer Anani I just discovered him and I am SO impressed by his knowledge, ability to put his guests at ease, and his genuine admiration for his guests.

[@klik-klik28]

Stroumboulopoulos is the best interviewer!

[@JohnPatt]

Him and Jian Ghomeshi are simply brilliant

[@klik-klik28]

thanks for the tip, looked jian up, he's very good :)

[@ROOKTABULA]

***** Cuz they're Canadian. Peer outside more, self efface more, pound chest and say "Look at me!" less.

[@ROOKTABULA]

klik-klik And now, as we know, very heading to jail soon.

[@slothfromthegoonies8201]

***** Canadians are less melodramatic than Americans, more down to Earth.

[@tizzukka]

Wow, maybe the single best interview on Stephen I've ever seen! Fantastic job, Georgie!

[@tizzukka]

***** Very true!

[@Marblez3]

Incredible interview.

[@PhiI93]

George is the best talk show host since Parkinson.

[@mkilner]

Good chap, Intelligent, humble and talented!

[@SaintMartins]

3:13 George hit a home run with that statement.....so true, that's life !

[@julesvallerand8415]

A wonderful interview, a pure delight...Also, it's a pure delight to hear Stephen talking about his friendship with Hlaurie. Simply priceless!.. It's rare that kind of pure/honest "relationship"

[@nigeh5326]

This interviewer is great he allows Stephen Fry to talk, he seems aware that the guest is the most important person, not the interviewer and that if you get a good speaker you let THEM talk.

[@divvyville4350]

I'm a fan of Stephen and so expected it to be good but was very surprised by how good the interviewer was, excellent and very real...well done

[@DanishNerdess]

Stephen, on behalf of Danes, you are always welcome! Just glad to see him so happy now, especially compared to then.

[@7hart2]

Two of my favourite hosts.

[@klik-klik28]

and stephen is always a delight of course

[@melocoton7]

I was today years old when I found this Interviewer and he is great! Not the standard fluff show interviews. Interesting guests and intelligent questions ❤️❤️

[@aysea4064]

That was just wonderful!

[@lemonscampi]

Stephen Fry....Just being amazing anywhere he goes :)

[@Revelian1982]

I really enjoyed that!

[@viewfromthehighchair9391]

Love the way George interviews people. He is just wonderful. And Stephen is a great guest no matter who the interviewer is.

[@johntsintzos6966]

beautiful mind Stephen Fry!!!

[@Patricia-ok1cd]

A great interview.

[@jimmy31hendrix]

Oh, the feels . . . :( . I´m glad he got above his pain.

[@MekinakSibiMekinacic]

Sadly, when you have bipolar disorder, this pain is always waiting for your around the corner.

[@cybertaiga9534]

Very interesting interview. Always a huge respect for Stephen Fry and George Stroumboulopolous was excellent here in the way he interviewed him. It was very natural.

[@100178020959]

Brilliant interviewer

[@steveandortudge]

Fantastic genuine personable interview. Well done George. Thank you

[@MekinakSibiMekinacic]

That was a GREAT interview! First time I see that interviewer, I am impressed by how he conducts his interview : first, very relevant questions : in just a few minutes, we get a pretty complete portrait of who that immense person that is Stephen Fry is. Also, he gives room to the guest, but he is also able to keep control of the interview, wich isn't easy with someone as prolixe as Fry, and he does so in a fluid manner. Well done! And thank you very much for sharing, it makes that great interview available for everyone even many years after.

[@karenwillis9563]

Appreciate your honesty Mr Fry. Had a lot of break downs can relate. Couldn't get out of bed or walk a few feet. Will try and look for your doc on the secret life..

[@abdimohamed2882]

smart dude!!

[@peterlewis3540]

His Steven Dawkins interview is sublime. Well, its not quite an interview, as Mr Dawkins barely say's a word, as he listens with admiration on Stephen Frys incredible intellect

[@queuesnake704]

Moment of clarity = spilling claret on yourself.

[@phizap]

stephen fry...., most brillant man i can think of !!

[@crispee1978]

i too suffer with bi-polar disorder and i can 100% empathise with Stephen when he said that the only thing that stopped him was that he couldnt do that to his parents. i can honestly say that the only thing that stopped me taking that road was that i couldnt do that to my gran. i lost my mum several years ago and i dont speak to my dad, but having watched my gran lose her only daughter (my mum) i simply couldnt do that to her. its also worth noting that Stephen an i share the same birthday (24 august) as well. astrologists make of that what you will, i dont believe in astrology incidentally.

[@matthewwoolhouse3829]

I too share your birthday, suffer depression and love Stephen Fry. I'm gay too.

[@potatoe21cr]

My birthday is 24th August

[@carbonquiznoz1]

Thanks you for the upload! What an incredible interview.

[@queuesnake704]

Life turning upon a hinge. It's those moments that are the most fragile, like porcelain or thin glass - and the most interesting. Funny you should mention it. =)

[@lokiandzeuschannel]

love this

[@thewtk]

I knew that this is where I would find positiveness - imagine if all of youtube's like the comments below.

[@marilynmalone1381]

Intelligent and funny

[@Emanon...]

Bloody (inter)national treasure!

[@myneighbourjohnturturro]

Anyone else got the hots for Strombo? I mean, DAMN.

[@Beevenhouse]

By the way, if you like Stephen Fry but haven't read his autobiographies, do. There are three of them out there now, so get started. All three are the type of books you have the hardest time putting down.

[@patsylvest]

+Beevenhouse Completely agree with you. Hope others will take your advice.

[@ChucksDream]

Beevenhouse what if you never read books as you find it hard to concentrate? Is there an audiobook version?

[@emikiwi]

@@ChucksDream Yes Stephen narrated them all himself (as if anyone else could do it better!)

[@ChucksDream]

emikiwi a year later I have an answer 👍🏻 lol thankyou i will investigate

[@corra7]

Miss George on our Canadian TV.

[@donnahoworko5705]

I love him

[@queuesnake704]

Madness.

[@no-oneman.4140]

His intelligence is breath taking.

[@Glasgow_kiss]

I love listening to Stephen. even though I'm a bit of a homophobe. he's a joy.

[@broadshoulder]

You are disgusting as a homophobe. He wouldn't talk to you

[@Merlinthehappypig]

Brenda Scott Oh the irony of this comment

[@broadshoulder]

You don't get it do you. Homophobia is catching. It shouldn't be allowed

[@broadshoulder]

Merlin The Happy Pig I bet you think you are such a wit for using the Irony argument. Homophobia is catching. t can screw up lives and careers. Calling a homosexual a homophobe is pretty vile in my book. So what? Perhaps if you'd encountered it rather then being on your high horse you would understand

[@broadshoulder]

Fallen Sparrow So the caller isn't marginalising the LGBT community? The homophobes are allowed to continue to do so? You are OK with that? eh? How does it marginialise those of the LGBT community by speaking about it. Unless this generation of LGBT people dont have the flak in them to turn down homophobia/?

[@thomascoghlan5967]

I love you Stephen

[@Furrylittleproblem12]

15:06 man, that struck home with me

[@wolverineiscool7161]

5:13 so good!

[@markuss4133]

One day i will have N discussion with this beautiful mind... i hope ;)

[@Nicole-fp9cy]

I can finally comment. I am stunned, I can't comment. Are you really live ?

[@queuesnake704]

Huh. Bromance at first sight, huh? Nice. =D

[@rileyprowse2978]

Transcript revised (starting at 12:14) : [Stephen]: …I don't know many people actually worth knowing who don’t have a mind that sometimes leads them astray, you know? I don't know that sanity-real, sober, sensible sanity-is such a “glorious thing.” I think most of the world's advances-in creativity, and invention, and in almost anything-have been in little spurts of madness. And sometimes they can be destructive, and it's particularly hard for people to live with someone who suffers from a mood disorder. The most amazing one was a man I met (um) who had been a commander in the Royal Navy. In fact he'd been in charge of the, the royal yacht Britannia-which was the Queen's yacht-(um) and he'd suffered really really badly, and at one point he was in the hospital with light security-because he'd been to talking to his people, you know, about the fact that he was considering suicide, he was really really low. He managed to evade his security people, he walked out into the road infront of a lorry, and his legs were smashed to pieces, and so badly that he dozens of operations with pins: had them re-broken and re-broken-but it took years to get his legs right so he could walk. And I remember saying to him, “my god, the pain you must be have been in, all these operations…” He said, “yes,” he said, “but you have to remember, that pain was nothing like as bad as the pain inside that made me walk into the traffic.” And that's the thing people don't understand about really severe depression. There's very much an attitude of “Oh go and walk it off.” you know, “Here just have a good walk, listen to some music, and you'll be fine.” [George]: it’s the stiff upper-lip right? (rhetorical question) [Stephen]: Yeah, and, and it’s, unfortunately it’s… it just isn’t like that. It’s like saying “walk-off the weather,” you know, the weather is real, and it's the weather inside you-you can't change it. [George]: Did you ever get that low? [Stephen]: (Umm) yeah, I-I tried to end my life on number of occasions… [in my] pre-twenties a couple times with huge mixture pills. Fortunately for me it was such a mixture-and they they went together so badly-that my brother-who had a bedroom some-way away from mine in my parents house-was awakened by the sound my projectile vomit [laughs], and he, he came in and I, I was sort of unconscious but spewing, and… and so I was taken to a hospital and had my stomach pumped, and that was very fortunate. Oh, and on another occasion-and again it's sort of faintly comic really-is um, is I put myself in a…(um)…in a garage, and put a, put a duvet-a sort of quilt-under the door, and put my finger on keys of the car, and umm, and really was thinking of turning the key… [George]: How did you get out of that though?? [Stephen]: …It was my parents. It, it was the thought of, of, of doing that to my parents, just, I couldn't bear the idea of how they would respond. I knew that it was a, [pauses] an awful thing to do to them. That no matter how much I didn't at the time want to live, I couldn't bear the idea of doing that to them-and, (um), and that's as good a reason to live….You know, there’s a poem by (um), by Dorothy Parker that ends every line as, “you might as well live.” And, and sometimes life does seem unsupportable, not for any logical reason-that's the point-you can't talk someone out of finding life unpleasant by saying, “look what you've got”-because it's not about that-but, but you can perhaps say, “look what it will do to other people.” ...powerful stuff.

[@MekinakSibiMekinacic]

Powerful stuff indeed

[@Jbsutt]

He reads the harry pothead audiobooks.

[@kmatinaki76]

[@thacabbagekid]

The world without a Stephen Fry would have been a poorer world for sure. Glad he didnt kill himself when he was young

[@marilynmalone1381]

But Stephen Fry IS an intellectual.

[@irishelk3]

George Strompoppadoparopapopadopalopalusopalopulus.

[@elanxx]

Is Stephen Fry that well known in Canada?

[@brucebaker810]

Me too. Canadian. And Fry fan.

[@peanutgallery7753]

Oh Yaa, a bunch of mounties and me were just flapping our gaps about him down by the paper mill. Great fuckin fella

[@davidjonathanrogers627]

Strombo basically doesn't stutter...so drastically different from US hosts.

[@JamesBongos]

9:40

[@pelhamonetwothree1239]

TOBEY MCQUIRE INTERVIEWS MICHAEL CAIN

[@queuesnake704]

A place to belong ... yeah.

[@TheFever77]

This Canadian?

[@allanmoncrieff5579]

Yes

[@RAMSEY1987]

is this a Canadian show? DO people even know who Fry is?

[@roosterbrewster938]

Yes

[@acgruel]

No b'y, we don't have books or internet in our igloos! *rolls eyes*

[@NxDoyle]

One of my many favourite Fry & Laurie sketches: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIeWpZmXqtxmrLM

[@Themillen6]

I think trump took Fry's advice about being yourself on Twitter a bit too far

[@jamesdettmann94]

1:05 Ben Shapiro disapproves

[@sera2775]

poor guy, sweating very heavily

[@Peterkonto]

Stephen fry is married to a man ...🤩🤩

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Bunch of shirt-lifters.

[@sweiland75]

Stephen Fry is a pseudointellectual

[@Yimello]

A common trait of pseudo-intellectuals is to go against common thought without evidence. So, you either create a body of evidence, or remain the hypocrite troll that you are.

[@sweiland75]

Yimello Well done contradicting yourself.

[@Yimello]

sweiland75 Attempting to tediously (and falsely) divert the conversation. Well done. Still haven't thought of anything to back up your stupid statement then I'm guessing.

[@user-wy9fi2sp5b]

Yimello Buddy you who feel "right and smart" believe what you believe and let us crazies in our world who know the truth that Stephen Fry is a completely brainless pseudo-intellectual .... To criticize our words by calling them "false" and "stupid" how truly are your nonsencial stupidities that distinguish clearly your bad education and that has nothing to do with the logic and intelligence ... Because as Plato said: '' the idiot can understand it by two indications: Talking about things that are about him useless and express an opinion on something that nobody asks him ... '' The truth is that you fell into what our great philosopher said.... So whatever fantasy makes you sleep at night, buddy. Believe the fantasy that you are the most logical, the most unsurpassable, the most interesting personality, the one and the unique. The MALAKAS and the all-knower. And leave us in our "crazyness". You are making fun of yourself btw with the snobbish bullshit stupidities you say that you can't even understand what you say.

[@miguelrodriquez7094]

+Στάθης Παπαδάκης Shut up sir.

[@divvy0115]

THE PHALICY THAT THIS MAN IS INTELLIGENT IS INSANE IM AN 18 YEAR OLD WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER and two things he said were absolute rubbish firstly that it is and only is the little walks and listening to music that do bring you back to the rest of the planet when your down and secondly then the ONLY single thing that will stop you committing suicide is thinking about what you,ve got HE CONTRADICTED HIMSELF STRAIGHT AWAY BY SAYING I COULD DO IT TO MY PARENTS WELL HE HAD THEM...............

[@lemmypop1300]

You really need to listen to him carefully, because he said EXACTLY the opposite from what you think he said.

[@AymanB]

Oh and it's fallacy by the way.

[@davidoneworld7759]

Maybe you are thinking PHALLUSY?????? Enough said..🤔

[@lMrFresno559l]

I LOVE British comedy. But, American comedy is just better, period. And what he said about American comedy was a huge generalization. When it comes to stand up, the greats are American. There have been some legendary British/Aus stand ups but the Americans are the greats. Also, comedic film. American comedies are better. Where the British could say they "win" would be sketch shows/ and TV comedy shows. but there really hasnt been any great sketch shows in England for a while, and i think the modern great sketch shows are American. But theres not doubt they have some amazing TV comedies. I would give them that. Film and stand up goes to Americans, period.

[@scottjo76]

I'm glad that someone like you who is objective and knows what is objectively better can inform the rest of us what is great and what is not..period. Personally i don't know of any American sketch shows, i'm sure there are "great" ones and you enjoy them , which is "great" But IMO British shows are just "better" full stop. Best stand up is Scottish btw, period...i mean fool stop.

[@ShaneyElderberry]

Political comedy seems like a good example to discuss. As an American, I'm still waiting for our own "Yes, Prime Minister" equivalent to happen. It should be possible for Americans to dramatize comically on serious topics, without jumping immediately into farce, or over-done caricatures.

[@johnboy14]

You do realise American films is full of British talent and it always has been?.

[@theplayer2286]

I would note that Mr. Fry was not stating that British humour was better by any objective standard than American comedy. He merely stated that he personally preferred the British variety of humour. Thankfully there has long been a delicious and fruitful interchange between the two schools of comedy across the pond. As an instance John Cleese declared that most of the Monty Python team were devotees of North American humour. Their great influences included Perelman, Thurber, Leacock, Sahl and George S. Kaufman. The point Mr. Fry was making was that there is a trend (no more than that) in American comedy to base the humour around the ebullient wise-cracking know-it-all. Whereas in British comedy there is much more of a trend in finding humour in social embarrassment of vulnerability. If in doubt at this contrast, just (re)watch 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' or examine the glorious comedy work of Stan Laurel. Thank God for both British AND North American (can't forget the Canadians!) humour.

[@michaelmayoh656]

He is right

[@2Uahoj]

Fry has in other interviews remarked the same thing: British comedy is more sophisticated and self-deprecating, whereas American is all slapstick and one liners. This is nonsense. Andy Griffith pioneered comedy about rural, small town American naivete. All in the Family made the prejudiced "Archie" into an anti-hero, while MASH lampooned the hypocrisy of "Frank" and the pomposity of "Charles." And on an on. Actually, having lived in Europe half my life, it is far more the Europeans who have the inability to laugh at themselves. They take themselves extremely seriously, reflected in their comedy, which is not typically about themselves, but about "the other."