Stephen Fry to deliver alternative Christmas message

Stephen Fry is set to address the reported rise in antisemitism in recent months as he delivers Channel 4’s alternative Christmas message this year.

The actor, comedian and writer follows in the footsteps of actor Danny Dyer, a deepfake Queen, The Simpsons and an AI robot, who have all delivered the speech in recent years.

Channel 4’s annual broadcast airs shortly after the official royal message on Christmas Day.

Fry, 66, will use his time on screen to talk of the “violence and destruction that’s unfolding” amid the Israel-Hamas conflict and address the reported rise in antisemitism in the UK, including shop windows being smashed and Jewish schools being forced to close.

In October, the Met Police said London had seen a “massive increase” in antisemitic incidents.

Fry says he was driven to overtly claim his Jewish heritage in order to stand up to antisemitism and “hateful abuse”.

“There is real fear stalking the Jewish neighbourhoods of Britain,” he will say.

“Jewish people here are becoming fearful of showing themselves. In Britain, in 2023. Can you imagine, Jews afraid to be themselves in the open for fear of reprisal?”

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The former QI host will also talk about his sexuality and how it led to him believing he would see a “long, lonely line of Christmases” when he was younger.

He will say: “Exclusion, exile and disgrace had been and surely always would be the fate of the homosexual.

“But, look, in my short lifetime – well, I think of it as short – Britain has moved towards an understanding and acceptance of gay love.

“All right, it’s not perfect of course, but what an improvement over the grim culture in which I grew up.”

First airing in 1993, the annual broadcast has served as an alternative to the monarch’s annual televised address and aims to bring viewers a message about the year’s events.

Fry will end his speech by calling on viewers to “speak up” and “stand” with Jewish people.

“Be… proud to have us as much a part of this great nation as any other minority”, he will say.

Fry recently revealed he broke his pelvis, hip, leg and ribs after falling 6ft from a stage at the O2 Arena on to a concrete floor.

He said he was still “self-conscious” when he leaves the house without his walking stick, which he has been using since the incident in September.

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