Morning:
8°c
Stephen Fry lined up to be the voice of 2012 Olympic Ganes
Alistair Foster22 Jan 2010
Stephen Fry is being lined up as the voice of the London Olympics.
The writer, broadcaster and actor is to have talks with Games officials about supplying his distinctive tone to adverts and campaigns in the run-up to 2012.
Organisers are also hoping for his “creative input” into the cultural side of the event. Fry's duties have not been decided, but it is believed he could be used for TV voiceovers, promotional videos and tourism guides.
He told the Evening Standard: “I genuinely don't know exactly what it will involve. I've been asked if I could fit in a meeting with some people from the Olympics but I have no idea what they are going to ask me. All I can say is that I'm really supportive.”
Taking on critics of the event, he added: “I'm really passionately behind it and I can't bear that there is already a groundswell of cynicism that it's all going to be disastrous.
“People saying things like, Ooh, we'll never be as good as Beijing or the Beijing opening day,' and, Ooh, we will just have pearly kings and queens on buses, the traffic will be terrible and the buildings will fall apart and it will be ruined.'
“Oh for goodness' sake, come on — it's the largest regular gathering of human beings on the planet and we're going to host it and it's going to be fantastic.”
Paul Woodmansey, spokesman for Games organiser Locog, said: “We're looking into bringing him in on the Olympic Park tour so he can get a feel for the progress we've been making. We hope to have discussions about what the role will involve, but we're really, really pleased he's interested and would love to have him on board.
“We have some ideas as to what he could do and he will have his own ideas. He is a very creative person and we'd love to have his input.”
Among those already signed up for ambassadorial roles are former triple-jumper Jonathan Edwards and rower James Cracknell, both Olympic gold medallists.
Blur's Damon Albarn has been linked to the position of opening ceremony director, while David Beckham has been heavily involved since the bidding process.
Reader views (8)
What a super bore.
- Fred, london, 18/03/2010 20:44
Report abuse
His ego's the size of a bottomless pit, that's why he's never satisfied. He's spoiled rotten in Britain, dominates the media, given endless accolades and received national treasure status. Why is it never enough?
Probably because he's got a very murky and bad boy past here. Also, he ran away to Belgium during the run of Simon Greys play. A total professional no-no in theatre land.
The image is becoming somewhat tarnished these days as he's become a victim of Twitter and his own hype. Like a Gilbert & Sullivan caricature, he has swelled up in his own self esteem beyond recognition. Using your fan base as a public platform for personal side swipes and pontificating at all and sundry, would incline to a Caesar like complex in the unwary.
In the US, the land of even more opportunity, you get to wipe the slate clean and reinvent yourself. Although most people with a criminal record never get entry clearance into the country, never mind migration status.
- J Taylor, Oxfordshire, 25/01/2010 12:19
Report abuse
That's quite interesting.
- Paul, London, 25/01/2010 10:37
Report abuse
He makes a great big dramatic announcement that he's going to leave Twitter, and then he doesn't. He makes a great big dramatic announcement that he's going to move to America, and then he doesn't.
This guy has no scruples and is nothing but a drama queen.
- Janet, London, UK, 25/01/2010 10:12
Report abuse
It was bound to be him or David Tennant!
- Gwaddilove, london ENGLAND, 23/01/2010 14:18
Report abuse
How about a woman? I rather like the BBC's Hazel Irvine and Clare Balding as presenters and broadcasters.
Good luck girls...
Paully xxx
- Paul, Bromley, 22/01/2010 19:01
Report abuse
How can this be? One of Fry's latest public pronouncements has been telling us of his intention to move to America. Like a holidaymaker rubbishing their own country after a sunny holiday, he came back from his America TV series trip wanting to move over there.
He sited not only wanting to move near his friend Hugh Laurie, but was at elaborate pains to point out that his Jewish Hungarian grandfather had almost emigrated there instead of to Britain. Indicating, like some migrants in Linda Grant's book, almost that he was born in the wrong place. Linda Grant's book told of many fleeing European Jews at the times of the pogroms and later, fled by buying passages in boats bound for America. But crafty captains put them ashore at Liverpool, telling them they'd reached the USA. She writes about the disgruntlement of some descendants who also feel shortchanged at being born in the wrong country. What a ready-made sense of victim-hood to stagger through life with!
Fry could have avoided victim-stigma by just not bringing in what a forebear 'might have done'. Suffice to state he one's love of America and desire to live there. Now he just comes across like a petulant Ben Elton, who went on Australian TV and ended up looking like a ridiculous sour-puss in his rubbishing of Britain to ingratiate himself with Australians.
- Pat, London, 22/01/2010 14:56
Report abuse
Please God no. Not Stephen Fry. Its more than two years before the Games start and it would be absolutely ludicrous to sign the preening Fry up now just because his agent is lobbying for him and wants the deal signed and sealed.
- Robert H, London, UK, 22/01/2010 14:47
Report abuse
