Stephen Fry steps down as Bafta Film Awards host after 12 years

Stephen Fry has stepped down as host of the Bafta Film Awards after 12 years fronting the ceremony.

The comedian and presenter said that he felt it was time to let someone else “take the Baftas on to new heights and greater glories.”

“Every one of the twelve BAFTA film award ceremonies that I had the privilege of hosting has a place in my memory. The mixture of glamour, glory, drama and - occasionally - embarrassment and hiccup holds a unique place in the British film calendar,” he said.

“Over the last two decades I have especially loved watching the emergence of new young film talent behind and in front of the camera.

“But after so long a time I felt it only right to stand down and let others take the BAFTAs on to new heights and greater glories.”

He added: “What fun it will be to watch BAFTA 2018 without my heart hammering, mouth drying and knees trembling.”

Fry went on to thank “all the production staff, Amanda Berry and her wonderful BAFTA colleagues, the BBC and all those who helped make every year so enjoyable.”

Fry came under fire for comments he made about costume designer Jenny Beavan back in 2016, joking that she looked like a “bag lady”.

Despite the comments being good-natured and in jest, Fry was forced to quit Twitter after being inundated with critical posts.

The 2018 host will be announced at the BAFTA nominations press conference next Tuesday.