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Stephen Fry is leaving British panel show 'QI'

By Karen Butler
Stephen Fry arrives on the red carpet at the 68th Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 8, 2014. The actor, author and comedian is stepping down from his longtime post as "QI" host. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
Stephen Fry arrives on the red carpet at the 68th Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 8, 2014. The actor, author and comedian is stepping down from his longtime post as "QI" host. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

LONDON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Stephen Fry has announced his retirement as host of the beloved British panel show QI.

Fry, 58, has appeared in more than 180 episodes of the comedy-quiz series, but the upcoming Season M, which begins Friday, will be his last.

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"For 13 years, I had one of the best jobs on television. Behind the camera, squadrons of quite extraordinarily brilliant researchers, program-makers and uniquely curious [in both senses of the word] people making that job so much easier. In front of the camera, generations of lively minds and above all, of course, the wonder of nature that is Alan Davies," Fry said in a statement Wednesday. "After passing the alphabetical halfway mark, I thought it's time to move on, but I will never cease to be grateful to John Lloyd for devising QI and for everyone else for making it such fun."

Sandi Toksvig -- the Danish-born writer, presenter, actor and comic -- will take over the show as host after this season, while Alan Davies will continue as QI's resident panelist.

"QI is my favorite television program both to watch and to be on, so this is absolutely my dream job. [My Nordic background also makes me keen to spend time with the Elves.] Stephen has been utterly brilliant with the first half of the alphabet," Toksvig said. "Now I look forward to picking up the baton, mixing my metaphors and sailing towards the Land of Nod [i.e. Season Z.] Who knows what lies ahead? It should all be quite interesting."

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