‘Jeopardy’ Host Stephen Fry Shares Two-Word Secret To Winning Any TV Quiz Show​on March 16, 2025 at 1:18 pm

Stephen Fry has hosted his own TV quiz show with the BBC’s long-running QI, and he has wowed audiences with his own general knowledge while taking part in Celebrity Mastermind and a celebrity version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?

With his return to the format, once again on hosting duties for ITV’s rebooted UK version of Jeopardy, the broadcaster has shared his own tip for securing success, whatever the TV quiz show.

Fry, who hosted QI between 2003 and 2016,told the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper:

“It’s just that simple thing: stay calm. It’s easy to say because a lot of people haven’t been on television before. 

“Even though there’s no audience, people are nervous because they’re on television, or worried about how they look and what they’re wearing and they’re nervous because they want to win. 

“They’re very excited, and that slight tension and strain is inimical.”

Regarding Jeopardy specifically, he suggested the necessary skills included “Above and beyond, knowledge is obviously the most important. But on top of that is the speed of your reflexes. You need to be a bit Zen. 

“It’s like in sport. You know how to hit a ball, but if you try and concentrate on it, you’ll miss somehow. If you don’t know, don’t buzz.”

The UK version of Jeopardy is based on the US version. It originally ran on Channel 4 for a year in the 1980s, before being revived on ITV between 1990 and 1993. It was aired on Sky One for a year in the 1990, and has now returned to ITV with Fry in the host’s chair.