Stephen Fry's life from cancer battle to prison stint and much younger husband
Stephen Fry has had an incredible career and has enjoyed fame for decades, but his road to success has been a rocky one, with the TV star battling his fair share of heartache
Stephen Fry has been confirmed as one of the 18 celebrities set to appear on the inaugural series of The Celebrity Traitors alongside host Claudia Winkleman.
But before then, the much-loved QI host, writer, author and director will be joining TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson for the ITV1 Celebrity Special Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? airing on Thursday, May 15.
He'll be in the hot seat, pitting his wits against the clock in hopes of raising substantial funds for a charity dear to his heart.
With all the excitement surrounding Stephen's forthcoming TV appearances, we took a look back at his past and found that the TV star had led quite an extraordinary life, filled with many ups and downs, reports Surrey Live.
Prison spell
Stephen Fry spent three months behind bars
Stephen has always been candid about his childhood, previously sharing on the Diary Of A CEO podcast, revealing he felt "lost and adrift" which led to a brief stint in prison.
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He faced struggles during his teenage years and was expelled from numerous schools. By the age of 17, Stephen found himself incarcerated for credit card fraud and was sent to Pucklechurch Prison, where he was held on remand for three months.
Reflecting on how he ended up in prison, the actor detailed how he'd stolen a coat from a pub, later realising the owner had left a wallet with two credit cards inside, and ultimately decided to use them.
On the podcast, he admitted: "They were very easy to use fraudulently."
The TV host then began "embarking on a countrywide spending spree," before being apprehended by the police.
Despite a challenging start with a prison sentence in his teens, Stephen has carved out an exceptional career and now stands as a notable writer, actor, comedian, and director, credited for work on Blackadder and The Hobbit film series.
Three-decade age gap with husband
Stephen Fry and Elliot tied the knot in 2015
(Image: FILE )
In their private life, Stephen and his husband Elliott Spencer choose to keep a low profile despite over a decade of marriage. The couple, who have a significant age difference of 30 years, wed in 2015.
Before their relationship hit the headlines, both Elliot and Stephen kept their romance away from the public eye, with Stephen even referring to Elliott as "Mr E,". This changed in time, with Elliott speaking openly to The Independent about their bond: "I don't care what people think. Stephen is the love of my life, the light of my life. We laugh all the time."
Elliott further shared the significance of humour in their union: "Humour is the binding thing in our life. I think that's what brought us together. It's been incredible."
Cancer battle
Stephen Fry battled cancer in 2018
(Image: ITV )
In terms of health concerns, Stephen bravely disclosed his battle with prostate cancer in 2018, admitting he underestimated the long-term effects.
During a recent Radio 4 discussion with Amol Rajan and Nick Robinson, he conveyed his reflections: "I wish that I'd known that it would take so long to get over it all. I don't mean the actual physical recuperation and convalescence. I mean that it takes a long time to leave you, cancer."
In an emotional video message to his supporters, Stephen expressed his gratitude towards his husband and family for their steadfast support throughout his cancer struggle. He commented: "My family and my divine, darling husband were just marvellous.
"And those friends who have known have been very kind about it. I'm lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people. Lucky to have such an incredibly team working for me."
He then expressed his appreciation for his health, saying: "And lucky to have an immune system working for me."
Bipolar diagnosis
Stephen Fry was diagnosed with bipolar at age 37
(Image:)
Turning 67, Stephen reflected on his Bipolar diagnosis at age 37, which proved to be a moment of clarity for the multifaceted star.
Having faced numerous mental health challenges and surviving three suicide attempts, with the latest occurring in 2012, the beloved figure from Blackadder candidly discussed his lifelong battle, particularly during his conversation with Herring at a packed central London theatre.
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He opened up about living with Bipolar disorder, revealing: "I am the victim of my own moods, more than most people are perhaps, in as much as I have a condition which requires me to take medication so that I don't get either too hyper or too depressed to the point of suicide."
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Celebrity Special on ITV1 on Thursday, May 15 at 9pm
*If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
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