Joanna Luley on the advice Stephen Fry passed on
Joanna Lumley has revealed the advice Stephen Fry has passed onto her as she builds up to hosting The BAFTAS for the first time.
Stephen hosted the ceremony 12 times before stepping down in January and Joanna told TV Times she phoned him when she got the job of presenting the prestigious film bash, which will be shown on BBC1 this Sunday.
“I rang him immediately and he said, ‘Darling, I’m so glad it’s you! I love Stephen, he’s such a generous man. He said to remember that no one has ever complained an awards ceremony was too short, and to just keep it alive. If I can even fill in one of his great footprints that would be a dream.”
Asked whether she was nervous about hosting the ceremony, Joanna replied: “No, I’m just excited. It’s such an honour – remember, this is my job, being on stage with people! I want to get it right, but I’m only part of the machine. I won’t even have my own dressing room – I’ll be sharing, which is lovely.
“All I have to do is let people know they’re in safe hands, so they can be confident and happy. It will be a fabulous evening – the Royal Albert Hall is beautiful anyway and we’ll fill it with stars.”
The BAFTAs is on BBC1 this Sunday at 9.00pm.
Main pic credit: Photo by Steve Vas/Featureflash/SilverHub/REX/Shutterstock
