Stephen Fry Left 'Embarrassed and Awkward' by Intense Grilling on ITV's The Assembly
Stephen Fry has confessed to feeling 'embarrassed and awkward' after an 'eye-watering' interrogation about his sexual preferences during his appearance on ITV's The Assembly. The renowned broadcaster, 68, humorously remarked that the experience was 'worse than the Celebrity Traitors roundtable', highlighting the unique pressure of facing a panel composed of autistic, neurodivergent, and/or learning-disabled interviewers.
Unanticipated Questions on Sexuality
In the upcoming episode, Fry becomes the first celebrity in a new series to confront The Assembly, where the conversation swiftly turned personal. He revealed that one audience member exhibited 'rather eye-watering curiosity' regarding his sexual preferences within his gay identity, a topic he did not anticipate. Fry, who came out as gay in the late 1980s and married Elliott Spencer in 2015, expressed surprise at the directness, stating, 'I wasn't expecting that!' and comparing his discomfort to feeling 'as embarrassed, awkward and uncoordinated as I always feel when dancing.'
Comparing The Assembly to Celebrity Traitors
When asked which experience was more intense, Fry joked that The Assembly 'just pips it' over his time on Celebrity Traitors. He explained that while the roundtable on Traitors involves game-based risks, The Assembly places individuals 'under a microscope for real'. Fry praised the show's 'frankness, openness, and genuine curiosity', noting it differs significantly from typical journalistic interviews, keeping him 'on my toes' yet proving 'friendlier and more fun than I had feared.'
Reflections on Growing Up Gay
In a recent interview with The Times, Fry opened up about his teenage years, describing how being gay felt like 'a horror inside him' and led to feelings of rejection. He recalled being mocked as 'Celibate Stephen' in the 1980s due to fear and social discomfort, stating, 'I always felt rejected in gay bars. I couldn't dance; I didn't look cool.' Despite the misery, he found solace in literature, citing influences like Oscar Wilde and E.M. Forster that helped him navigate his identity.
Views on Longevity and Marriage
Elsewhere, Fry discussed his perspective on aging, admitting he does not wish to live past 100 to avoid loneliness after losing friends and family. On his podcast Brave New World, he shared, 'I would hate to be that lonely Flying Dutchman figure... I would find that deeply upsetting.' Regarding his marriage to Elliott Spencer, who is 30 years his junior, Fry highlighted the importance of 'cheerfulness' and understanding differences, such as morning energy levels. He credited Elliott with introducing him to new interests like Kendrick Lamar and WWE, even revealing plans to attend WrestleMania in Las Vegas.
Celebrating a Decade of Marriage
Despite keeping a low public profile, with their last joint appearance in May 2019, Fry marked their 10th wedding anniversary in January with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, captioning a wedding photo, 'Ten happy years to the day since we were joined in marriage. I’m a lucky man.' The couple, who met in 2012 and married just 10 days after announcing their engagement in 2015, continue to cherish their private relationship.
The Assembly returns on Wednesday, 8th April at 10:05pm and Friday, 10th April at 10pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
