Stephen Fry leaves QI: here are a few of his best bits

Stephen Fry is stepping down as the host of British comedy panel quiz show after 13 years at the helm.

Fry has hosted the show with resident panellist Alan Davies for 12 series and over 180 episodes, but now says he feels it’s “time to move on”.

“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,” he says.

"In front of the camera generations of lively minds and above all of course the wonder of nature that is Alan Davies. After passing the alphabetical halfway mark I thought it 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."

Fry was never intended to be the host, only stepping in to present the pilot as a last minute replacement for Michael Palin. However, he’s become one of television’s most loved clever clogs in the time since.

Former News Quiz host Sandi Toksvig will be stepping up to fill Fry’s sizable shoes, and Alan Davies will remain as resident panellist.

Over the years, Fry has brought us many memorable quotes, and here are just ten of our favourites.

On politics: "It would be so much easier if politics were like software. They could just call it Bollocks 1, Bollocks 1.1, Bollocks XP Home Edition."

On clichés: "It is a cliché that most clichés are true, but then like most clichés, that cliché is untrue. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will always hurt me."

On smoking: "I think I have always linked smoking and sex. Maybe this is where I have been going wrong all my life."

On mental health: "I've got enough money, I've got a job, people like me – there's no reason to be depressed. That's as stupid as saying there's no reason to have asthma or there's no reason to have measles.

On writing your CV: "Don't say 'I'm confident, outgoing, and a natural leader. Sort of suggests 'I'm a reincarnation of Adolf Hitler'

On his sexuality: "To apologise for who one is, to apologise for how one loves, that's crazy. What would another species think of us if they caught us doing that? So I'm proud to say that I'm proud to be gay."

On Britain: "There's nothing worse than the British in one of their fits of morality."

On Americans: "A cut glass English accent can fool unsuspecting Americans into detecting a brilliance that isn't there."

On writing: "I get an urge, like a pregnant elephant, to go away and give birth to a book."

On words to live by: "Better sexy and racy than sexist and racist."