Ten Things You Never Knew About Stephen Fry

After entertaining us for two decades - as an actor, director, author, quiz show host, comedian and all-round lovely chap - Stephen Fry has ascended to national treasure status. It’s not hard to fathom why: the tack-sharp raconteur is as English as treating yourself to Earl Grey and scones on a rainy Sunday afternoon. As a new series of QI approaches, it's time to learn more about Britain's most beloved wordsmith. Read on for ten fascinating facts about the man who makes even Jeremy Paxman seem tongue-tied.

1. During his time at Cambridge University, Stephen appeared on an episode of University Challenge.

2. Stephen's self-confidence used to be so low that he abstained from sex for 16 years.

3. Stephen is a trained pilot who flies his own classic biplane. Is there anything the man can't do?

4. As a teenager Stephen wrote to P.G. Wodehouse, his literary hero, and received an autographed photo in response.

5. What are Stephen's most detested words? "'Hopefully' and 'disinterested' are nearly always used wrongly and, although it's silly to be pedantic, it annoys me," he admits. "But the worst is 'energy' when used in a meaningless, new-age sort of way, as in 'positive energy' and all that arse-wallop." Not for the first time, the nation stands corrected.

6. Stephen has recently written his first pantomime. His version of Cinderella will play at London's Old Vic Theatre from December 4 to January 20.

7. When did Stephen first acknowledge his sexuality? "I suppose it all began when I came out of the womb," he recalls. "I looked back up at my mother and thought to myself: 'That's the last time I'm going up one of those.'"

8. Stephen served as best man at Hugh Laurie's wedding and is godfather to Laurie's three children.

9. Stephen joins more clubs than a hyperactive five-year-old. As well as serving as vice president of the Noel Coward Society, he's an avid member of London's Sherlock Holmes and Oscar Wilde societies.

10. Stephen was voted pipe-smoker of the year in 2003. We're holding our tongues...